By Standard Team
Today marks a crucial moment in the almost five-decade political career of President Kibaki. This 44th Jamhuri Day celebrations, which he will preside over as Head of State this morning, is the last national day of his first term that he is likely to use to rally the nation behind him.
But like never before, the stakes are higher and the opposition is tougher.
His chief opponent for the highest office in the land, Mr Raila Odinga, on Tuesday told a news conference in Nairobi that his party, the Orange Democratic Movement has “smelt power”.
This is how he summed up his battle with President Kibaki for top honours, “We shall attack the enemy from every direction…on land, on air, in sea, under the water until we secure victory.”
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| Security men try to control wananchi from surging towards President Kibaki in Maua town on Tuesday. He later left without addressing them after a stampede. Picture By Moses Omusula |
Today, as President Kibaki ascends the ramp of the flag-bedecked ceremonial Land-Rover at Nyayo National Stadium, he will be aware that in the next 15 days Kenyans could give him another chance to perform a similar function next year or confine him to watching it as a retired citizen. This Jamhuri Day is given importance, not just by the colourful trooping of colour by the military, but also the tense political a crossroads at which Kenya sits and on the threshold of which Kibaki stands to deliver his national message.Kibaki will enjoy the benefit of the tradition set by his predecessors to speak the sole message of the day and it is highly expected his speechwriters will have grabbed the occasion to pack a message to rally the nation behind him.
It is expected he will live up to what has been his wont in the election year to use the national day platform to enumerate his performance scorecard and give a projection of a future under his Government.
He may also use the chance, in which he will bask in the limelight of live coverage by TV and radio channels, to whip his key challengers and exalt his rating.
On Kenyatta Day, Kibaki hailed his development record then signed off by lashing at his challengers — Raila and Mr Kalonzo Musyoka — as leaders who have nothing to offer.
The President gave an account of his rule, and then moved on to paint the picture of the next five years, if re-elected, pledging that he would make the economy grow “to double its current size.”
Kibaki declared his rivals liars and dreamers who were promising ‘miracles’ they could not deliver.
Being the last big chance of his most publicised live event, Kibaki will not surprise if he takes time off from his prepared speech to raise his profile and hope to clinch a finishing advantage.
ODM ready for powerBut Raila sought to pull the rag under Kibaki’s feet ahead of today’s celebrations, saying his Orange party had “smelt power”.
Saying he was in the lead in six provinces, the ODM presidential candidate and outgoing Lang’ata MP said, “We have our in-house pollsters who sample a wider response than all pollsters and we can gauge our support. We know we are ahead. “
Raila spoke at a press conference at Wilson Airport, Nairobi, before he flew out to remote Samburu East and Samburu West for homestretch campaigns.
He was accompanied by ODM chairman, Mr Henry Kosgey, secretary-general, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, former MP, Mr Kipkalya Kones and secretariat officials.
Sending Kenyans a special Jamhuri Day goodwill message, Raila urged voters to support ODM.
To the media, Raila emphasised the importance of a free and fair media to a credible election.
” I have a specific message to the The Standard Group and the Nation Media Group … your role in coverage of elections is crucial. Be fair to all candidates.”
In Meru, where he was on the campaign trail, a security scare forced President Kibaki to cut short his speech at the Maua Municipal Stadium in Igembe District.
The President spoke for about three minutes only before a stampede. This is after he personally ordered the police to stop blocking a crowd that was surging towards the dais.
“Wewe, wewe hapo wachana na hawa watu. Wachana nao wewe. Asante sana,” the President was heard instructing police officers, who were controlling the crowd.
As soon as this directive was implemented about 3,000 people surged forward.
Cabinet ministers Kiraitu Murungi, David Mwiraria and Assistant ministers Peter Munya, Petkay Miriti, Raphael Muriungi, Kilemi Mwiria and Joseph Kingi and the President himself watched helplessly as the crowd surged towards the dais before stopping within a metre of the Head of State.
The presidential security detail and the local security officers were caught unawares and efforts to control the charged crowd failed.
Owing to the prevailing situation, the President was forced to leave the stadium.
But before he left, Kibaki asked the people to turn up in big numbers to vote during the December 27 General Election.
Earlier, there was more drama at the presidential dais when the Igembe South Kanu parliamentary candidate, Mr Mithika Lintuli, attempted to grab the microphone from Mr Munya, who was the master of ceremonies, in front of the Head of State.
Lintuli was angry because Munya had failed to introduce him as one of the candidates like he had done to his counterparts.
In Igembe North constituency where the President commissioned the Sh3 billion Farm-Kaweru-Kipkona road, the outgoing MP, Mr Maoka Maore, was never given a chance to speak, even as his supporters and those of his rival, Mr Ntoitha M’Mithiaru, engaged in a shouting match.
The President had a hard time also at Laare market in the constituency, where he spoke for less than five minutes as supporters of the various parliamentary candidates supporting him for the second term drowned his voice.
His efforts to calm them down failed and he left the dais after urging them to vote for him. Kibaki told them that they were at liberty to choose an MP of their choice.
Earlier, President Kibaki had commissioned a Sh140 million power project at Marimanti town in Tharaka District before campaign meetings at Kangeta, Karama, Muthaara, Akithi, Kianjai and Nchiru in Tigania East and West constituencies.
The President had earlier declined an invitation by ODM presidential candidate, Mr Raila Odinga, to engage him in a live TV debate, saying it would be unnecessary.
Given the possibility of a regime changeover, today’s Jamhuri event draws parallels with the celebrations in 2002 presided over by then President Moi on the brink of a transition.
The only striking difference with the occasion five years ago is that Moi was certain he was presiding over his last national celebration as Head of State.
This was so because a constitutional limit barred Moi from contesting the impending presidential election. Consequently, he had picked on Mr Uhuru Kenyatta as his preferred successor. But Kibaki, then the Narc flag bearer, won the elections.
When he presided over the 39th and last Jamhuri Day in office, Moi delivered a powerful and conciliatory speech — one that fitted the occasion.
He said: “If you wronged me, I forgive you and forgive me if I wronged you, too.”
Moi had stated on a nostalgic note: “It has been an extraordinary privilege for me to lead this great nation over the past 24 years, and to serve you, the people of Kenya.”
Moi then unveiled his retirement plans and said he wanted to become Africa’s peacemaker, as head of the newly created Moi Foundation.
Today, Kibaki may not want to deliver a message that would spell finality but one that exudes confidence of continuity.
In his maiden Jamhuri Day at the helm in 2003, President Kibaki, riding on the crest of public confidence, promised Kenyans a new constitution by June 2004.
The next two celebrations were marked with pomp and colour, as cracks in his government were still not visible. The President then spoke of the success of his Government.
But events took a dramatic turn in December 2005 when the Government was handed a resounding defeat in a referendum on the proposed new constitution.
Kibaki sacked dissident ministers who led the ‘No’ vote, among them Raila, Kalonzo, Prof Nyong’o, Jebii Kilimo, Najib Balala and Ochillo Ayacko.
This group teamed up with Kanu to form a formidable opposition ODM. On Jamhuri Day Raila called for a snap election, saying Kibaki was not in control of Government.
But in his speech Kibaki declared a clean break away from referendum politics, saying the country must move on.
Last year, with the Government of National Unity to seal the cracks, Kibaki spelt out key achievements of his four-year reign.
He delivered the memorable phrase; “I assure you things will get even better.”
Today, the President is likely to deliver a scorecard of his regime, and certainly attract the ire of the opposition for the undue advantage.
Reports by David Ohito, Patrick Muriungi, Alex Ndegwa and Morton Saulo
Lifted and published by API/APN africanpress@chello.no source.standard.ke
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