KENYAN PRESIDENT IN TROUBLE AS PARLIAMENT REOPENS
By Wangui Kanina
Reuters, UK
March 21 2006
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki opened a new session
of parliament on Tuesday but he looked in deeper trouble than when he
suspended the assembly four months ago after a humiliating referendum
defeat.
Kibaki postponed the opening of parliament on November 25 in response
to opposition calls for snap elections after voters defeated the
referendum on a new constitution.
But Kibaki’s attempt to win breathing space has backfired and he is now
beset by a string of problems including two big corruption scandals,
a blundering raid on the media, and a worsening east African drought.
In his opening address, Kibaki defended his record against corruption
and attacked opposition exploitation of the issue.
“Those that seek to politicise the fight against corruption should
know it is not words that will eradicate the vice but firm action,”
Kibaki said.
He said political turmoil could scare away investors from Kenya,
east Africa’s biggest economy
The referendum defeat and corruption scandals that forced three
ministers to resign have fractured Kibaki’s ruling coalition,
strengthened the opposition and further tarnished his image as
a reformer.
As if that was not enough, the government dug itself into a deeper
hole on March 2 when masked police commandos raided Kenya’s second
biggest media house, the Standard group.
Far from intimidating Kenya’s critical media, the raid has provided
damaging ammunition for the front pages every since.
The coverage became even more colourful after opposition allegations
that two Armenian businessmen, mocked in the press for their taste
for heavy gold chains, watches and rings, led the raid and had shady
dealings with Kibaki’s government.
Nation newspaper columnist Macharia Gaitho said on Tuesday: “With
every new claim, every new revelation, every new accusation, the
Kibaki government sinks deeper into the muck.”
Kibaki has still not referred directly to the raid but in his speech
he said press freedom must have some limitations.
“Although the freedom of media cannot be over-emphasised, it is clear
that freedom must be exercised within the bounds of responsibility,”
he said.
‘OUT OF TOUCH’
Prominent opposition politician Kalonzo Musyoka — who fell out with
Kibaki in 2004 — said the president should have apologised for the
raid instead of talking as if nothing had happened.
“This afternoon we heard from a president that is completely out of
touch with his people,” Musyoka told Reuters.
Outside the tightly guarded parliament, about 100 people protested
against Kibaki’s government.
“Everywhere you go there is corruption, there’s nowhere you can go
here without paying a bribe,” Yussuf Galgalo said to cheers. “The
government is not able to lead the country.”
Analysts say political battles between the opposition, itself split,
and Kibaki loyalists keen to restore his credibility could paralyse
attempts to pass a backlog of bills dealing with everything from the
next budget to sexual crimes.
Instead, assembly sessions are expected to be dominated by debate
over the corruption scandals, Kibaki’s worst crisis since he took
power in 2002 on promises to create jobs, tackle poverty and stop
high-level graft.