Written by Ben Kiilu (aka BigBen)
Kibaki, the man who many believe is illegally in office as the president of Kenya has offered to form a government of national unity. Not a surprising turn of events. Many will urgue; yes, there goes a true leader, trying to find a solution to save our motherland. While others will say there goes another tactic from the Moi school of though, a ploy to cling on to power.
However, from whatever angle you look at this whole election fiasco, one thing is clear. Mr. Kibaki is out of touch with reality. The offer to form a government of national unity is just one more proof.
Recent history has shown that Kenyan political parties and their leaders have a very poor record of coalition. The NARC farce (The National Rainbow Coalition) is just but one prime example.
Government of National Unity: The Ruling Team
A government of national unity is in effect a team, comprising members of different parties, formed to provide leadership to a country. In this case, it will be a team comprising of ODM, PNU and other parties.
Substantiated research in human behavior and team dynamics has shown that, for a team to function effectively or even to function, it members must:
1. have shared values
2. be linked together by a common purpose or agreed core objective
3. have absolute confidence in each other
4. have absolute trust in each other
5. have mutual respect for each other and loyalty to the team
6. have willingness to address differences and resolve problems rather than burying them
7. Have fun
A Raila Kibaki Team?
I must wake up from this dream, I keep on thinking. A government of national unity? Aka Kibaki – Raila team?
I am very much struggling to grasp this concept. These two have tried to work together in the past. Have they succeeded?
Dissent from within
Didn’t Kibaki not lie to Raila when he failed to appoint him as the Prime Minister on assuming office as agreed in the memorandum of understanding signed prior to 2002 elections?
Didn’t the perceived betrayal lead to an open rebellion and a split within the cabinet, which culminated in disagreements in 2005 over a proposed new constitution for the country with Kibaki and Raila falling out spectacularly?
How are we expected to believe that Kibaki and Raila can form an effective team?
Let us look at the foundations that underpin team performance in the context of Kibaki-Raila marriage:
1. Do you see Raila and Kibaki having shared values? Kibaki seems to have been molded from the Moi school of Values i.e. stick to power by all means possible even if it means shafting your team mates. On the contrary, Raila is of the ‘democracy by all means possible, every price to be paid for the sake of democracy, no democracy no surrender’ school. How far apart does it get? Do you see these two ever having shared values?
2. Common Purpose – ODM and PNU do have purposes, but not common purpose. They instead have competing purposes. TO BE IN CONTROL. Yes, to be the government of the day. For this situation to be turned around from a competing purpose to common purpose, bargains and sacrifices must be made. Can you see Kibaki stepping down for the sake of having a government of national unity? Can you see Raila sacrificing the opportunity to be the president?
3. Trust, trust, trust. The irregularities with the 2007 election tallying process, subsequent announcement of a presidential ‘winner’ and swearing one hour thereafter, revilations by one Kivuitu that he is not sure that Kibaki won has made ODMers feel that they have been cheated, robbed and raped of what is due to them, the presidency. Deep wounds have been created and trust has been lost. Don’t the wise men (read men and women) say trust is like virginity, it is lost once and for all? Bearing in mind the dissent from within caused by happenings of the post 2002 election and this fiasco, do you see Kibaki and Raila having confidence and trust in each other, let alone absolute trust and confidence?
We need to wake up and smell the coffee. Thinking that government of national unity will work in Kenya is at best kidding ourselves.
What Kenya needs now is:
1. Urgent independent verification of votes – yes dealing with problems and issues not burying them
2. If Kibaki is found to be in power as a result of unfair means, then we would expect immediate resignation.
3. If he is found to be in power as a result of peoples decision, then Raila and ODM must accept, respect and work with the PNU government
4. Immediate resignation and possibly prosecution of the Electoral Commission of Kenya Chairman, Mr. Kivuitu for negligence of duty.
5. High-powered drive to recapture the reputation lost, yes the country’s reputation.
6. Respect of peoples decisions
I admire your ideas and the truth in the short critique in relationship to forming a government of National unity. For sure Kibaki-Raila team can never lead the kenyan people for a day due to the deep mistrust.
Personally I think that no matter what happens, the election process has really created more mistrust for a majority of kenyans. Even if a recount of the votes is done and it is clear that Raila won – I am sure he will not really bring us that hope we had before the election. Even if Kibaki is the true winner still the country is divided in the middle. Both of them have a hard task ahead as individuals and as a team.
The ECK and the entire judicial system (especially Wako as Attoney general, and Gicheru as CJ) have also failed and betrayed the trust of Kenyans. No one can ever convince me that they (ECK, Judiciary) are innocent. How do you explain the fact that all of them were present for the swearing in of the president within a span of less than one hour notice? For me it is clearly written on the wall that the swearing inn of the president was pre-arranged by a poweful group (probably the Muthaiga group in collaboration with the judiciary) before the the announcement of the results?
Don’t forget Raila and Kibaki were once together, this politicians can easily band together, anytime. It is bad that Raila was short changed but comparing him to Kibaki is like asking whether to wear shoes or trousers, they are both the same and equally important and none has value over the other. I would nor be suprised if Raila did the same thing as Kibaki, he is more capable of doing it, I was suprised Kibaki had the guts considerng his cowardly profile. Let’s be honest, Raila is not the saint we purport him to be, we know he has been accused of worse crimes even murder and neither is Kibaki better. Right now let’s concentrate on peace in Kenya and whoever the people want should be in power .
Don’t romantisize leaders they will disappoint you my friend, I am in the power circles and I know that this people dont give a damn beyond power and extering more power.
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