JEXJALUO ****
P.O. Box 58972
00200 City Square
Nairobi
Kenya
25th December 2002
UNCLE DAN
Daniel Toroitich Kapkorios arap Moi's long and illustrious reign as Kenya's president draws to a colourful end in January 2003. The cloud that defied nature makes as graceful an exit as did an entry. The pastoralist who remained sedentary for 24 years, embraces motion once again. So much can and will be said about Daniel arap Moi, a clear statement of his stature and dominance, and an indication that it is not just an individual retiring, but a colossus and institution. A nation pays homage to a career patiently and meticulously built, a journey well traveled.
President Moi is not done however, no doubt the cause of terror, fear and panic to his detractors. Whether in the form of the proposed Moi foundation or otherwise, he will still continue to exert considerable influence in public life. Ranking top amongst his immediate priorities will be the gradual transfer of power and influence to the third generation of Kenyan leaders. The head of the new government is almost certainly going to be President Moi's chosen successor, Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. That Moi would have his way was a foregone conclusion a long time ago.
Uhuru Kenyatta has a monumental task ahead of him and he appears to have been working on it. Young , intelligent, wealthy, cosmopolitan and cocky, Uhuru is remarkably fluent in English, Kiswahili, and his native Kikuyu. The majority of Kenyans his age and younger cannot match this, myself included. He has admirable public speaking skills and a good presence. His parents and mentor, Daniel arap Moi, no doubt trained him well. In this regard one notes the deep admiration that Uhuru had for his late father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. He speaks just like him and until very recently kept long hair brushed backwards just like his father, unlike many of the youth today who dress, attempt to behave, and attempt to talk like they were in Manhattan or Detriot. His publicists must have prevailed on him to have a haircut to enhance his image. Most Kenyans nowadays anyway, relate to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta as distantly as they do to past legends like Luanda Magere and Laibon Lenana. Uhuru Kenyatta it emerges, has character and is ready to listen and learn. This has become evident over the past four months and are no doubt some of the traits that endeared President Moi to him.
Most definitely, President Moi will move fast to seal loopholes in Uhuru's presidency over the coming six months, courtesy of a crash course in African politics. Working behind the scenes as president emeritus, Moi will ensure that the new government quickly gets a foothold. There will certainly be clumsy and tense moments when Moi and Uhuru will clash during this period, just like Mandela and Mbeki did, but these will be dealt with and kept out of the public eye. Uhuru's presidency, courtesy of Moi of course, shall be further bolstered by the likely resumption of foreign aid to Kenya in the coming year, and a likely visit to Kenya by President George W. Bush of America.
President Moi with his numerous guessing games already has third generation Kenya in motion. He has taken advantage of our vanity and perceived genius to put together a spectacular transition. No one for instance, has given him credit for his decision to retire as scheduled when he had all the potential to rule for another ten years. This is ironic because Moi has long been regarded as an intellectual minnow. Daniel arap Moi is class act, a sophisticated operative if ever there was one. If we cannot draw inspiration from him, then there are absolutely no other quarters we can draw inspiration from. Vanity has driven people mad in this country.
Uhuru's presidency is going to be fast and we should brace ourselves for speed over the coming years. Already the Chinese have a trade centre on prime real estate in Nairobi valued approximately at one million US dollars, with a similar showy China trade complex under construction right next door. Uhuru Kenyatta inherits this and much more. This country and world is changing fast, we just don't realise it. Many will be left behind and the sooner we adapt, the better.
Michael Mundia Kamau
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