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Kenya: How Will Your Majimbo System Work?

27 October 2007

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interview

Nairobi — ODM Presidential Candidate Kalonzo Musyoka

QUESTION: Politicians have the tendency of making promises to the electorate, which they do not fulfill once elected; how can Kenyans trust the promises you are making now?

Suleiman Nyongesa,

Moi University.

ANSWER: Before I make any public pronouncement or pledge I give a careful thought to it and its implications. The pledges I have made so far are plausible and I intend to fulfill all of them.

For example, ODM Kenya has pledged free secondary education for students from poor families currently receiving bursaries. What we intend to do is completely lift the fee burden in either tuition or boarding costs, from needy families. I wish to assure Kenyans that my word is my bond; I will never come back to Kenyans to retract any statement I have made.

How will the majimbo system you are advocating help to develop marginalised regions such as North-Eastern?

Hassan Abdalla,

Garissa.

ODM-K stands for majimbo or devolved government. This means empowering regions to govern themselves. However, our party lays greater emphasis on economic federalism, in which we will deploy central government resources to each region to create wealth for the residents.

North-Eastern has great potential to raise premium beef cattle for local consumption and export. We will develop the necessary infrastructure, including roads, telecommunication, power and construction of mobile abattoirs and sink boreholes to spur economic development.

My party intends to also market North -Eastern to international investors, especially film-makers, so that we may make the area's beautiful topography Kenya's Las Vegas.

In your majimbo system, how will you ensure regions that contribute more to the national cake get matching shares as returns? And can you assure Kenyans that you will not engage in the horse-wait-for-the-donkey developmental ideology in the distribution of resources?

Kibutu Kiiru,

Lokichoggio.

At the moment the system you refer to prevails. For example, Coast province contributes more than Sh56 billion, and Central gives the exchequer Sh1 billion. In the allocation of the water development vote, Central was given the highest vote.

Reinvesting in the regions will spur development and create wealth. The current disbursement has failed, and we need to shift our strategic gear and see how a new strategy will help our people.

How will your government address the issue of research, and what is your view of the genetically modified foods?

Cosmas Muia,

Yikivala.

Research is a critical factor of development, and in ODM-K's vision of turning Kenya into an industrialised modern economy, we intend to invest in research to boost agriculture, manufacturing, appropriate technology transfer in ICT and biomedical research as well as the building and construction subsector.

We will encourage and facilitate industrial attachment for students taking professional courses to reduce the gap between theory and practice. My government will create a fund for research to be channelled through the universities and research institutes.

Food security is critical to the country's development. GM food crops and plants are the future of science and research. But at the moment research into their safety for human consumption and their effect on the environment are not yet completed. We need acceptable universal standards before we can allow GMOs into the country.

The Kibaki administration introduced free primary education and as a result, Kenyans are now heavily taxed and prices of goods have skyrocketed; won't your free secondary education worsen the situation?

Wekesa Nyongesa,

Eldoret.

There is always room for improvement. We have not fully exploited our economic potential. Let us look at the positives of these programmes; today the poor can access learning facilities. At the same time, I propose to broaden the tax base while relieving people earning Sh30,000 a month.

According to weekly opinion polls, it seems you can be the deciding factor if you stepped down and supported either President Kibaki or Mr Raila Odinga. Your comment.

David Abugah,

University of Arusha.

I am driven by the vision I have for Kenyans. I am driven by millions of Kenyans who yearn for leadership based on integrity and paradigm shift in leadership. A leadership that will fight poverty, a leadership that will confront corruption, fight tribalism, arrest extremism and generally provide an environment that will allow Kenyans to enjoy their full potential.

Under my administration, we will tap that power and we will put in place sensible public policies, policies in the public interest, not the special interests, to achieve our goals of energy independence, universal healthcare, the best education system in the world, and peace in the country.

In a recent radio interview, you said you were reluctant to name your running mate because you expected Mr Uhuru Kenyatta to bring Kanu into ODM Kenya so you that could give him that position; does that mean you did not have confidence in Dr Julia Ojiambo?

Wilson Mwamodo,

Mombasa.

Mr Kenyatta was not meant to be the Dr Ojiambo's replacement. The party delayed the announcement of the running mate because we wanted to announce it together with the party's overall leadership team, including the summit and the director of the presidential campaign.

Some of your critics say you are negotiating with PNU via Kanu through your secretary-general, Mr Mutula Kilonzo; is this true?

Wanjiku Karago,

Nairobi.

I wish to assure that ODM Kenya intends to fight and win this year's elections. The recent visit by Hon Mutula Kilonzo to Kabarak was personal as retired President Moi's lawyer, and it was not a party mission. People spreading this rumour are enemies of our party who are sensing defeat.

What are your strongest points in the race for State House?

Ng'ang'a Gatibui,

Kibichoi.

While I might not be the best judge for my strengths, I count on my experience in government and governance. My background connects me to the struggles and aspirations of most Kenyans.

The international networks I have built will come in handy in positioning our country as a regional hub on trade and commerce. I am accessible, I believe in a leadership based on my integrity, family values, the rule of law and demystifying the presidency.

What development legacy did you leave during your stints as a minister in the Moi and Kibaki governments?

Kibutu Kiiru,

Lokichoggio.

I raised Kenya's profile in the international arena during my tenure as Foreign minister, lobbied for the retention of the Unep headquarters in Nairobi when it was under the threat of being moved out of Africa.

Instead, Gigiri was upgraded to become the only UN headquarters in the developing world.

I set the foundation for the implementation of free primary education by putting it in the Narc manifesto in 2002. I played a significant role in the quest for peace in Sudan, Somalia and Burundi.

For any country to develop socially, economically and politically, the people have to be guaranteed of their security and that of their property; how do you intend to tackle the issue?

S. Wekesa,

Eldoret

Some aspects of insecurity are poverty-related due to lack of jobs and resources.

We therefore need to keep our youth busy and create for them employment opportunities.

ODM Kenya will offer the disciplined forces better remuneration and facilities to work better. We will make sure that promotions are done on merit and reward them accordingly.

If we do the right thing and make sure that our young people are going to school, that they're getting good jobs, that they're starting businesses, that they're living in thriving neighbourhoods and communities, this will do more to lessen insecurity.

What are your achievements as an MP for more than 24 years?

Mbanya wa Mapenzi,

Kaloleni.

During my tenure we have been able to build more than 40 secondary schools, many more primary schools, health centres and a sub-district hospital.

Today Mwingi town is the fastest growing centre in the region, thanks to a multi-billion-shilling water project we lobbied for.

Many students have benefited from the Kalonzo Musyoka bursary fund which has now gone national through the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation.

Tribalism is a disease deeply rooted among the Kenyan communities; how will you fight this menace if you are elected president?

Suleiman Nyongesa,

Moi University.

It has always been my position that Kenyans belong to one community called Kenya.

It is the selfish leaders who negatively exploit Kenya's rich ethnic diversity. ODM Kenya will give all Kenyans a chance to participate in the progress of our country, irrespective of the ethnic background. If you look at our party summit and leadership, it is a true face of Kenya.

You were in the Kanu government when Mr Samuel Kivuitu was appointed chairman of the Electoral Commission three weeks to the 2002 General Election, and yet you did not comment; why are you now championing his re-appointment?

Wilfred Choi Makumba,

Ritembu.

ECK commissioners were appointed following the IPPG deal of 1997, and they were nominated by various political parties.

The Moi government honoured that deal, but that of President has reneged on the agreement to consult political parties over the replacement of ECK commissioners whose terms have expired. This creates room for suspicion, hence the call for Mr Kivuitu's retention.

The Kanu government which you served faithfully has been blamed for formulating policies that brought this country to its knees economically; how different will your administration be?

Jacob Osoro,

Nairobi.

ODM-K offers Kenyans a paradigm shift in leadership. A paradigm shift in the way we formulate public policy, the way we manage public resources, governance and the rule of law.

In the coming weeks we will unveil to Kenyans our manifesto which will clearly show the way we will offer better leadership for this country.

If you win the election this year, which criterion are you going to use to make appointments to your cabinet? And how different is it going to be from the Moi and Kibaki ones?

Evans Nyambane Tinga,

Kisii.

We are going to appoint a merit-based regionally balanced and lean cabinet. My appointments will not be made as a reward for loyalty, but on how how Kenyans can be served best.

You recently said that you and your ODM counterpart Raila Odinga are great friends who are fighting a common enemy, why are you not fighting this enemy in the same political party?

S.W. Nyongesa,

Eldoret.

My friend Raila Odinga abandoned ODM Kenya for another party. Nevertheless, our participation in the coming General Election will be in the furtherance of the development of multiparty democracy .

You have been quoted as saying that it is impossible to make a coalition with ODM and PNU until after the elections; what will happen if you are the leader of Official Opposition; will you still enter a coalition with the winner?

Justus Onkware Arita,

Nairobi.

I do not intend to be leader of the official opposition.

My desire is to be the next president of Kenya. However, if it falls on my lot to be leader of the opposition I will be duty-bound to vigourously put the government of the day in check.

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