'Intellectuals’ expertise handy in political class campaign think-tanks

It is that time of the electoral period again when politicians are in a rush to tap into the wisdom and expertise of intellectuals.

Main political rivals, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga, have particularly assembled strong think-tanks ahead of the August presidential poll.

Composed of mainly university lecturers from the disciplines of political science, history, sociology and law, the intellectuals are largely charged with the duty of designing campaign and political communication strategies.

While members of the team around President Kenyatta have elected to operate in secrecy, some of those backing the Nasa presidential candidate, are openly doing their thing.

They include economist and lecturer Dr David Ndii, law scholars Prof Makau Mutua and Dan Ameyo, University of Nairobi lecturer Dr Adams Oloo, and East African Legislative Assembly legislator Abubakar Zein.

ADVISER

Although named by professional colleagues as members of Kenyatta’s think-tank, Prof Peter Kagwanja, the chief executive of Africa Policy Institute and Prof Macharia Munene; a lecturer at United States International University, only admit to doing “occasional consultancies” with the Kenyatta administration.

“However I have neither directly dealt with the President nor received a cheque from him. Nonetheless, there is nothing wrong in doing business with the President or his party,” he says.

While admitting to assisting the Grand Coalition Government, Prof Kagwanja maintains this time around he has not been involved.

Ms Nancy Gitau, who served as Kibaki’s political adviser, among others, is reportedly among the brains behind the President’s re-election bid.

The involvement of intellectuals in the President’s campaign rekindles memories under previous regimes of Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki, when university professors actively participated in the highly partisan electioneering process.

MAFIA

Although Prof Amukowa Anangwe-lecturer at University of Dodoma, Tanzania observes the Jomo Kenyatta regime drew inspiration from gerentocracy (rule according to the whims and caprice of old men) – comprising mainly the so-called “Kiambu Mafia”, whose captain was Cabinet minister Mbiyu Koinange – Kenya’s first President also relied on advice from selected political science scholars.

Julius Gikonyo Kiano, the first Kenyan to earn a PhD, was, for instance, instrumental in shaping Kenyatta’s government at its nascent stage.

According to Dr Oloo, there are two types of intellectual services currently offered to the political class. He explains that there are those who, because of their technical know-how, are offering consultancy services at a fee. The second type is sucked into campaigns owing to the fact that they share political ideology. He cites Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o who shares the ideologies of Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Nasa presidential flagbearer.

“And because one’s stance is in sync with that of a particular politician, you do it even without the thought of a cheque in mind,” says Dr Oloo.

Prof Kagwanja observes that intellectuals are citizens with a civic duty to work for and defend the best government. However, he says, intellectuals must draw an indelible line between their role and that of activists and hecklers.

PREJUDICE

“The idea of a neutral intellectual in political and other processes is a dangerous myth. It is a figment in the fertile imaginations of those who still believe that intellectuals are meant for the Ivory tower away from the mud of politics,” says Prof Kagwanja.

There are other intellectuals-turned-politicians, who by virtue of their current political leaning, are similarly offering service to their respective parties. The Secretary General of ODM Agnes Zani, is one such example.

Before joining politics, the Nominated Senator was a lecturer at UoN, in the Department of Sociology.

“The two (academic knowledge and politics) are tied together and I have always provided my professional input where necessary, advising on the political terrain and offering solutions to what is statistically possible or not,” observes Dr Zani.

Besides the few who have openly identified with either side of the political divide, Dr Oloo observes there are many professional colleagues, “offering boardroom consultancy services” behind-the-scenes.

Prof Anangwe, admits to offering professional service to former President Kibaki, former Premier Raila and President Uhuru. He says politicians are the most difficult clients.

“It is regrettable that some intellectuals have been reduced to court jesters,” says Anangwe.

Prof Munene maintains that offering professional advice to politicians is in order, “as long as one is able to fight off subjectivity and related ethnic and religious prejudice.”