Commentary (by Abdulahi Ahmednasir) - Raila’s ultimate test as it’s now time to walk the talk

Ref: http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143982622&cid=190

Published on March 2, 2008, 12:00 am

By Abdulahi Ahmednasir

The agreement on Thursday between President Kibaki and Mr Raila Odinga to share power is historical.

The substratum of the agreement is that Raila will have the authority to appoint half the Cabinet. This is the first time in the country’s history that two leaders, who probably loathe one another, jointly exercise executive power. We have begun a cohabitation arrangement between two unloving partners. But who said partners in a relationship must be crazy about each other?

This arrangement provides an opportunity for Kenyans to compare and contrast the people the two leaders pick for the Cabinet.

Among the things Kenyans will look at are qualifications, age and gender balance.

They will also want to see who appoints a ‘clean’ and ethnically balanced Cabinet.

For his entire political life, Raila has fought to reform Government through fair and foul means.

He endlessly fought for a limited liberal and accountable Government. He fought against corruption and tribalism. He has championed the rights of the weak, the marginalised and the powerless. He has also been a political prisoner.

Undoubtedly, Raila has a long illustrious political career as a rebel. For the last 25 years, he has been fighting a Government in power either from the streets or in Cabinet.

He was rarely comfortable with any regime, including those he served as minister.

The power deal will therefore take Raila to hitherto uncharted waters. The ministers he appoints will be revealing in four important ways.

First, through his appointees, Kenyans will know whether Raila is merely a smooth talking wily politician who tells the masses what they want to hear. They will also want to know whether he genuinely believes in the principles he has championed for three decades.

Second, will he, like Kibaki and Moi, appoint ministers to reward them for loyalty, or will he tap into the huge potential his party provides? This is important because we will know whether Raila will conduct business as usual or will break from the past.

Third, he is one of the few politicians free from allegation or complicity in grand corruption. On the few occasions he was in Government, he ran ‘clean’ ministries and has a proud record against graft.

One of the effective tools he used against Moi and Kibaki in past campaigns was to show Kenyans how enmeshed both administrations were in grand corruption. He has talked the talk. The time to walk the talk has come.

Chance to stand up and be counted

Many ODM MPs have good credentials and a clean record. Will Raila show by deeds that his portion of Cabinet — to quote former British Prime Minister Tony Blair — will be free of sleaze and whiter than white? Or will he reward influential individuals, even those accused of involvement in graft?

Four, through his choice of Cabinet, he will show both his game plan in the coalition and his strategy for another bid at the presidency.

Undoubtedly, Raila’s choice of Cabinet will force him out of the closet to stand up and be counted.

So how will he fare? Raila is both a pragmatic and a conviction politician. He will not forget the core base of his support, but if pragmatism and conviction clash, he would probably stick to his conviction. He recently said he would join a coalition government only if it had a huge reform agenda. Politicians like Mr James Orengo and Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o have been in the reform trenches with him all along. Like him, they have a track record for reform, the fight against graft and a limited and accountable government.

Raila’s next steps will tell Kenyans whether his reform rhetoric was just that or a rue conviction for change.

Raila, in his appointments, will loudly tell Kenyans whether, like Kibaki, he loathes younthful talent or treasures them. Will he be brave enough to appoint men and women in their 30s and 40s or will he find more comfort in those age groups he looks up to as uncles?

ODM has also more than its share of MPs who served under Moi in various capacities. This group proved invaluable to Raila’s efforts in the elections. But some have heavy baggage. In a clean administration, they would be untouchable political lepers. Will Raila play real politic or seek refuge in beliefs and principles?

During campaigns, Raila pledged to form a ministry that will deal with the torturous history of North Eastern Kenya. Now that he has the power to appoint a minister for such portfolio will he keep his pledge? And Muslims…

A second Prime Minister in independent Kenya, with authority to appoint half of the Cabinet, gives Kenyans the first opportunity to interrogate the enigma called Raila.

—The writer (ahmednasir@ahmedabdi.com) is a lawyer and former Law Society of Kenya chairman.