Development Record of Kibaki Government: The campaign pitch

Its campaign year and everyone is qualified to give a speech on the development record of President Kibaki. It's true we have limited data for comparative analysis of government performances under different presidents. We have only had three presidents in history, Mzee Kenyatta, Raisi Moi and President Kibaki. If logics were to hold and history to confirm, leaders have served the electorate better in their first term than subsequent terms in office. Kenya should be no exception to this observation. If each segment of five-year term was to be evaluated, Mzee Kenyatta and Raisi Moi performed much better in their first term. Save one year left and if history holds true, President Kibaki has given the best performance expected of his administration. A second term will not be any different and by all indication, it will be worse than his first term.

We have seen an over stated, over-sold development achievements of President Kibaki that makes one wonder why roads are still in pathetic state, surgery in Kenyatta hospital is still only for the rich and medicine is none existent in district hospital pharmacies and the disparity in treatment is deeper than ever.

Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has had some success in rejuvenating some regional small scale project in constituencies. This kitty fund has become very popular not because of its great benefit to the common man, but it's the only channel the rural people have some control in planning and implementing projects in their area. CDF was forced down the Kibaki government's throat reasoning that the kitty fund will fail because MPs will use it to enrich their campaign power. Come 2007 it is his success story.

Free education has been taunted as the most single achievement of the Kibaki government. I wish it could be accompanied by quality education and not just access to classroom. That all children have fairly equal educational opportunity; a class room with books to read and teachers to teach. I wish all children could have the same bright dream of success in life by simply completing free primary education. Free primary education was a great idea but a free secondary education would be a noble undertaking because with secondary education, the small dreams of poor children shall become big dreams.

The election year has come, and guess who is coming to inspect a project near you, First Lady Lucy Kibaki. One wonders why she waited until election year to wake up and start working. Kenyans have been waking up daily to contribute in the development of their country; it's time First Lady did her part. If the First Lady can visit 210 constituencies in ten months of 2007 (before the election), then she could have visited all 210 many times in four years. This is election year and we know campaign rhetoric. End. G. Omburo

George Omburo