C. Bryson Hull
Reuters
February 10, 2005

Nairobi: For Kenyans who thought former President Daniel arap Moi’s sordid era had ended with a new government in 2002, the past week delivered a shocking case of deja vu.

The corruption drama playing out in Kenya bears many of the hallmarks of Moi’s 24-year reign, from the halting of foreign aid to the government’s defensive responses to accusations of malfeasance, Kenyan observers say.

“Kenyans have come to understand the new president is like the old president,” the Daily Nation newspaper wrote in an article headlined “Kibaki sees no evil as cancer spreads.” “For President Mwai Kibaki has been gently trudging in the footsteps of the man he replaced at State House – by letting things slump into old ways,” the paper wrote.

British High Commissioner Sir Edward Clay’s new charges of high-level theft last week and Monday’s resignation of top graft fighter John Githongo sparked a growing credibility crisis for President Mwai Kibaki’s election pledge to stamp out sleaze.

In a statement on Monday, Githongo gave no reason for his decision saying only he “was no longer able to continue serving the government of Kenya.”

What has followed is silence from the president, a spate of insults and counter-charges against the accusers, and exclamations that Kenya would not be told what to do by its donors.

“We shall be no one’s poodle. We shall only sing our own song at our own rhythm, with our eyes fixed on due process,” Justice Aaron Ringera, head of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, told reporters.

Foreign Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere accused Clay of having too much to drink before giving his damning speech and called him an “incorrigible liar.”

Others said Clay was acting like a paternalistic colonialist, and was motivated by the fact British companies have lost out on recent government tenders.

One minister even urged an investigation into how former British envoys acquired land in Kenya, suggesting that it had been done illegally.

End Corruption

Kibaki’s National Rainbow Coalition government worked hard to convince its foreign benefactors it was safe to resume lending to Kenya after he was elected in December 2002 with a promise to end the endemic corruption of the Moi regime.

Donors opened their wallets again 11 months later, after Kibaki delivered a few promised reforms. Today public and private donors provide about 11 percent of Kenya’s budget.

But after Githongo’s resignation eight top donors on Tuesday threatened to halt aid if things do not change quickly. The United States immediately cut $2.5 million in funding for anti-graft efforts.

In retrospect a bit of Moi could be seen in Kibaki’s initial decision to award Kenya’s first anti-graft post to Githongo, whose anti-corruption credentials were impeccable.

The appointment mirrors Moi’s attempts to quash criticism of Kenya’s human rights record with the installation of distinguished lawyer Amos Wako as attorney general.

“To cynics, the appointment of Mr. Githongo was a stunt straight from Mr. Moi’s script,” the Nation wrote.

Kibaki should borrow one more play from Moi’s book, and speak out, said George Odera Outa, an academic and commentator on Kenyan affairs.

“The Moi government tried to publicly respond. The Moi regime was extremely sensitive to international opinion and some heads rolled typically, even it was just to cool some tempers,” Outa said.

“What we have now is some silence, as if nothing is happening.”