Moi, Kibaki in review face off

By Athman Amran

President Kibaki says his predecessor should keep to the backseat in the current reform debate because he failed to give Kenya a new constitution during his regime.

Former President Moi on the other hand sees his successor as one who also fell victim to the many false starts and vested interests that over the years, frustrated attainment of the elusive dream on whose platform Kibaki campaigned and won in 2002.

Responding to Kibaki’s assertion on Tuesday that his successor should take a rest from the current referendum debate, Moi told a public rally in Eastern Province Kibaki failed on his promise to give Kenya a new constitution within 100 days of his election.
President Kibaki’s stand on reforms and change needs no defence, and his strong support for the new Proposed Constitution stands out as testimony...’

Moi, who is opposed to the Proposed Constitution, asked: "Walipopata serikali walisema wataleta katiba kwa siku mia moja. Si walishindwa?" (When they took over government they promised to give Kenyans a new constitution within 100 days. But did they not fail?). Moi spoke at a ‘No’ rally in Wote in Makueni District.

He added: "When I see things going wrong I will speak out." Moi said there was democracy and he was also free to visit any part of the country, adding he was not after an elective or political seat.

"I am not interested in personalities. I am interested in issues and the contents of the draft constitution. I am not interested in any position. I am interested in the welfare and unity of this nation. I am concerned with the future generations," Moi explained.

But Kibaki would not ignore Moi’s response, and last evening the Presidential Press Service issued a statement defending the President saying: "He has remained steadfast in his desire to entrench reforms."

It further read: "President Kibaki’s stand on reforms and change needs no defence, and his strong support for the Proposed Constitution stands out as testimony to a leader who wants Kenya to move forward to enable the country unleash its vast potential by creating jobs and opportunities for the youthful population."

The statement also mapped out what it argued were indicators the President was on the side of reform, adding that "due to his commitment, a consultative constitution review process culminated in the 2005 referendum".

It went on: "On August 4, Kenyans will have a clear choice of voting for a new constitutional dispensation and entrench the reforms they have long desired."

Rule of law

The retired President on his part said a country’s constitution was important as it was expected to serve a nation for many years and enable people live in peace, ensuring the rule of law, and safeguarding the country’s wealth.

Moi argued the country needed stability and the avoidance of tribalism, which he said was brought about by multi-partyism. "When multi-party system came people began being tribal-minded. I ensured all Kenyans were united solidly," Moi said.

He argued when he set out to make sure the country was united and peaceful, people mistook him to be a dictator. "I was not a dictator. People wanted peace," the retired President added.

On Tuesday while at a ‘Yes’ rally in Upper Eastern, Kibaki wondered why some people who had had their time in power would cast themselves in bad light by criticising those striving for what they themselves did not achieve while in office.

"There are some old men who are going round opposing the draft and yet they failed to give us a new constitution when they were in power. They should take a rest," said Kibaki, in Kirinyaga.

Though President Kibaki and Moi set out to give Kenya a new constitution, there were barriers to the dream that Kenyans yearned to see unfold before their eyes.

The Moi-Kibaki exchange rekindled memories of the first Bomas Constitutional Conference, which was scheduled under Moi, but dissolved when Parliament’s term ended before it completed its work.

Elusive dream

The second Bomas Constitutional Conference took off under President Kibaki, but again the elusive dream failed because of claims by some of the leading National Rainbow Coalition lights that the State had distorted its draft.

The wing led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga campaigned against the Government-sponsored draft law in the 2005 constitutional referendum, which the Kibaki Government lost.
Former President Moi was in Makueni Constituency Wednesday where he campaigned against the Proposed Constitution. He also said President Kibaki failed to deliver a new Constitution in 100 days as he had promised. [PHOTO: Andrew Kilonzi/STANDARD]


But even as Kibaki accused President Moi of failing to deliver a new constitution one fact stands out: Most of the current crop of leaders were at one point part of the Kanu regime. They include Moi’s former three Vice-Presidents who are in the Cabinet: George Saitoti, Musalia Mudavadi and Kibaki himself. Among those who served the ruling party at the national level then is Vice- President Kalonzo Musyoka.

In the last days of the Moi regime, Raila took his party, National Development Party, into Kanu, and for a fleeting moment he was the then ruling party’s secretary general. This marked the final leg of Kanu’s attempt to give Kenya a new constitution.

The blame-game between Kibaki and Moi is bound to ignite debate on the many false starts in the review races; including the ecstatic reception Kenyans gave Narc on December 30, 2002. This, like other dreams, fell flat.

Moi was yesterday with three ODM-Kenya MPs who are in ‘No’: Kiema Kilonzo, Peter Kiilu and David Munyaka. Also in his rally was former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile.