Kajiado, Rift Valley, Kenya — He is 42, young and the scion of what may yet become a political dynasty in Kenya. His name is Uhuru Kenyatta, son of Kenyas founding president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, and the presidential candidate of his fathers Kenya African National Union (Kanu), which has been under the leadership of Daniel arap Moi for the past 24 years.
Kenyatta's detractors call him a political novice - untried, untested and inexperienced. He has never held elected office and his one stab at being elected backfired. His critics also accuse him of being a puppet of the outgoing president. But his supporters say he is will bring new blood to Kanu and is precisely the fresh start Kenya needs.
Criss-crossing the country in his whistle-stop presidential campaign, in the run-up to general elections scheduled on December 27, Kenyatta was in Kajiado - Maasai country - in Kenyas southern Rift Valley Province this week.
He was greeted enthusiastically by hundreds of local people, who seemed as fascinated by Kenyattas choice of campaign vehicles - three smart chopper helicopters - as they were by his message.
Kenyatta is running against the veteran and seasoned politician, and one-time vice president and finance minister, Mwai Kibaki, who is 71. Kibaki first served under Kenyattas father and later Moi, before leaving Kanu and standing against the president in 1992 and 1997.
Kibaki is now the leader and presidential candidate of the opposition alliance National Rainbow Coalition (Narc). Observers say Kenyatta may have a tough task beating Kibaki in the polls. Three other contenders are also contesting the presidential seat in Kenya but are thought to have only a slim chance of success.
Before boarding his chopper at the end of his campaign visit to Kajiado, Uhuru Kenyatta outlined his vision of a new Kenya under his leadership, in an interview with Marianne Kihlberg of Swedish Broadcasting, Muliro Telewa of the BBC and allAfricas Ofeibea Quist-Arcton.
What made you want to become president and plunge yourself into the muddy waters of Kenyan politics?
Hopefully, to find a better Kenya and to build a better Kenya for all of us.
You have never held elected office, you have been described as political novice, with very little experience.
Maybe thats what this country needs, freshness, a new approach, a new attitude, so perhaps the 'novice element is going to help us.
In 1997, you ran as a parliamentary candidate in the Kikuyu-speaking region of Kenya you come from, but you were not elected by the people, you lost. What makes you think that things have changed and that Kenyans will vote for you this time round and that you would make a good president?
The thing about the 1997 elections is that people were voting along particularly tribal lines. My problem was that I was in the wrong party, I was in Kanu, according to people from my own area. The main push then was 'join DP, join any other party and we will vote for you. I said 'no, I dont think I believe in the principle of hopping from one party to another. So I suffered as a result of it then, but I think its paying me dividends today.
So the 'Kenyatta name and political legacy of your father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kenyas founding president, didnt help?
No because, like I said, people were voting largely on the basis of ethnicity and it depended on which party you were in and, as far as they were concerned, this or that was the party that they wanted the Kikuyu community to be in and that was it.
Uhuru Kenyatta, you talk about a whole new approach and a 'freshness that you would bring, but you are a member of a very old party, your late fathers and President Mois governing Kanu party. Many of your critics say that you have just latched onto the old guard of Kenyan politicians. What 'fresh approach can you bring to Kenya, should you win the elections?
I think thats the most important aspect of it all because, yes, we are in a very old party and parties are basically an institution. But whats important is that the bulk of the leadership in Kanu has absolutely changed. I think that we are about the only party in the country that has brought about a massive change within its party hierarchy.
A lot of the people who were in positions of authority within our own party, and within our past governments, are all basically now in the opposition. That creates, for me, a wonderful new opportunity for our party Kanu.
What about those who say that, should Uhuru Kenyatta win the elections, President Daniel arap Moi will be ruling behind the scenes and that you are not your own man.
I think thats absolute rubbish. Our constitution is absolutely clear. President Moi retires at the end of this year and he hands over power, according to our constitution, to the duly elected new president. I do not believe for one second that he himself is even ready to continue hanging onto power.
We, as far as Im concerned, know that he is heading for retirement. We are looking forward to taking over and winning this election and putting together a team that thinks like us, that works in our own particular fashion and manner. We are looking forward to forming a new administration to take over the realm and handling of power in this country.
Whoever wins the presidential election will face the legacy of an economy in bad shape, unemployment and massive corruption in Kenya - what do you think you can do about that?
I think that is the biggest challenge that we have, because it is in those things that I think we need a new generation. We need freshness in our complete approach, not just politics, but in the whole economy and in the management of our economy. I believe that is what is going to get us round the corner. We have really got to change how we have operated as a country for the past 10-15 years, if we are to catch up, to move up and to begin getting new growth in various sectors of our country.
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So I think a whole new approach, a whole new attitude to society, to politics, to our economy is what this country needs and I think that is what myself and many others of my generation are prepared to give this land.
An opinion poll published recently has predicted a landslide victory for the opposition Narc coalition and your presidential rival, Mwai Kibaki. Whats your reaction?
It is completely meaningless as far as Im concerned, because it was the same group that did the same poll in 1992 and in 1997 and the results proved for themselves that they were drastically different.
But were you piqued that you fell so far behind Kibaki and so low in the poll?
Absolutely not because, like I said, its happened before. I dont know what agenda it is that they have. But as far as Im concerned, the determining factor will be 10.5 million voters in 2 weeks time.
Do you think theyll vote for you?
Absolutely.
So should we expect to see you as the next president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta?
I believe so, I believe so. God bless you.
