Poll suggests that Mutava Musyimi could be a populer presidential candidate
In the run up to the 2002 general elections a seasoned political analyst quipped in my hearing, how wonderful it would be if Rev Mutava Musyimi were to seek political office and specifically the presidency.
At first I was puzzled at the suggestion but then he quickly went on to point out the qualities this selfless servant of the people possesses, and managed to convince me to take my thinking in the same direction he was going.
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Weeks ago this blogger pointed out here that the Rev Musyimi was headed for politics. One reader angrily dismissed me as a rumour mongerer. That reader of this blog will now have to eat their words because judging from some recent developments, it is now abundantly clear that Rev Musyimi is headed straight into the murky waters of Kenyan politics.
The normally cool headed church leader sounded irritated two days ago when a journalist insisted on asking him a second time, albeit in a different way, whether he was going into politics. Musyimi who was apparently reading a message on his cell phone looked up and said; "Now you are being clever. I have told you, when I am ready to talk about that I will call you like I have today."
Musyimi had called the press t announce that he was stepping down from the NCCK chair almost two years before his tenure was due to expire. He would have left at the end of next year. He pointedly remarked that he had been at the helm of organization that brings together virtually all major church denominations on the country for about 14 years. "That's too long for a person to be in the same job," he quipped.
What is not yet clear are the details of his entry into politics.
My contacts in Embu insist that he will contest the Gachoka parliamentary seat currently held by Joseph Nyagah (who is aligned to ODM) in what is expected to be a bruising battle as Nyagah is not one to take a fight for his political survival lightly. Nyagah is also aspiring for the presidency in a party known as GAP, which is affiliated to ODM-Kenya.
The former clergyman will also put up a formidable fight considering that president Kibaki is behind him as the two are known to be good friends ever since the latter took over power in 2002.
Musyimi is banking heavily on the over 10,000 Kamba votes in Gachoka and has in recent months been taking delegations from Gachoka to government minister's to have their problems sorted out. Lands minister Kivutha Kibwana and his water counterpart Mutua Katuku are two ministers that have hosted the delegations.
Being the NCCK boss for the past 14 years, Mutava knows a few things about politics as he rubbed shoulders with politicians several times including the period when the clamour for a new constitution had escalated.
He is also a good public speaker which is a plus in politics but he still in many ways a greenhorn who does not know the nitty gritty stuff of electioneering which Nyagah is conversant.
Mutava might shake Nyagah in Gachoka but this does not mean that the latter will pack his bags and go home, on the contrary, Musyimi with all his excellent credentials is bound to find himself in a major political battle on this his maiden bid for the August house.
So far other church leaders to declare an interest in this year's include Pastor Pius Muiru, one of the most popular evangelists in Kenya as well as Bishop Margaret Wanjiru. Muiru is also going for the presidency. Bishop Wanjiru is eyeing the Starehe seat while Muiru is going for Kamukunji. Admittedly none of them have the kind of experience and credentials that Rev Musyimi has.
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Anybody who has been in Kenya can attest that Musyimi's entry into politics was always in the pipeline. And as usual, he'll tell us that since he was the head of NCCK, he's clean and ought to be elected without question. Chris, personally, I have never liked Musyimi since NARC(or is it NAKA Kenya) came to power. So this is the guy who was to champion the Anti-Corruption campaign? What has he done apart from glorifying Kibaki's "fight" against corruption while guzzling the funds that were allocated to this ambigous body he headed in the name of advising the president on the corruption war? Does the president need to be adviced on who Anglo-Leasing is? All said and done, I wish him all the best in his quest for parliament. (He cannot contest the presidency since Kibaki will be running and the government powerbrokers haven't endorsed him).
ReplyDeleteFirst refrain, Rev. Musyimi has all the constitutional right to seek any elective post in Kenya. That said, he is in for bapstim with fire.
ReplyDeleteTo give credit where it is due, Mutava played a significant opposition role to Moi's dark era. His courage and charisma is an asset to very few and stood tall.
That said, his consistency in this realm has been anting, to say the least. He unwittingly pierced his moral balloon by supping with politicians. By accepting to serve two masters (church and politics) he spread himself to thin by evidently pandering to the whims of the rullling elite. Call it what you may but his corruption steering committee is a political appointment with nothing to show for it despite the obscene budget.
We need a break from the tired and tested poltical lot and if Mutava can breathe new lease of life into our leadership then why not. But the caveat remains his reasons for joining politics must be objective and above reproach.
If Rev Mutava is merely joining the ranks of other self-seekers with the belief in being rewarded for fighting injuistice then the good man of God is dicing with his integrity and moral's death.
But we must start from somewhere and being neither too foolish nor guinieses, we are all eyes and ears to see what he is brining to the political table. Gachoka people may be having a saviour or a political mercenary depending on what his political entry point is anchored on.
I think people have a right to become what they want. We have other reverends in parliament and nobody raises a finger.
ReplyDeleteAbout Musyimi and Gachoka politics, in my opinion his chances are pegged to who becomes odm presidential candidate. First I will correct the belief held by Chris and company that Nyaga enjoys bedrock support in Gachoka. A quick look at the election results for both elections won by Nyaga shows the opposite. In '97 he was beaten hands down by Musakwa in the KANU primaries. His father contacted Moi and the results were reversed. musakwa defected to the Green African Party and he put up a comendable show. The difference between the two was less than1000 votes. Then come the Tosha elections. Nyaga defected to Narc at the last minute and was controversially handed the Narc ticket. The difference was 500 votes. this shows how shaky Nyaga is back home.
How will the odm nominations have a bearing on musyimi's chances? We should first remember the bad blood between Hon Kalonzo and Nyaga. During the Kasarani fiasco of 2001, Nyaga put up for the vicechairmans post to block kalonzo. He said that kalonzo had all along been undermining him in Gachoka and that itwas payback time. He vowed on TV that he will make sure Kalonzo's antics will come to null. Then come this years old nominations,he is at it again. The thinking in kalonzo's camp is that he was planted by Raila to cut a good chunk of would be Uhuru's or kalonzo's votes to the advantage of raila odinga. In swhort there is a lot of mistrust between nyaga and kalonzo. in my opinion if kalonzo clinches the ODM ticket he will use all in his power to make sure Musakwa gets the odm ticket in gachoka in which case he will go all the way to win the seat. If kalonzo looses the nominations then it means that nyagah will win the ODM ticket in gachoka constituency. This is where Musyimi will get a lifeline. kalonzo will feel beaten and will try some revenge on the weak guys who campaigned against him. He will secretly join forces with the Kibaki forces in gachoka to campaign for musyimi if only to ensure nyaga is jobless. All in all the next mp will be Musyimi or musakwa. Joe has a zero chance.
About this talk of fresh leadership, i am afraid it doesnt always add up. I am tired of reading in this blog and hearing in Vijana tugutuke rallies that the youth have the monopoly of good leadership. We forget that those guys in parliament were once fresh,what did they do? can anyone out there tell me how the 34 year old mungatana is a better mp than the 75 year old nyachae? How is Ahmed khalif better than Joseph Munyao? This is a load of crap. We should start sourcing for trustworthy leaders with integrity and u know what? these are not preserves of the young.
Inasmuch as we may commend Rev. Mutava Musyimi for the good leadership of the NCCK, and for his plans to venture into higher leadership by vying for the Gachoka Parliamentary seat, I have sentiments to make. I am a Gachoka constituent and one of those that identify with the problems that face the Gachoka's population. I knew not that Musyimi was a Gachoka constituent till a few months back when i heard that he was vying for the parliamentary seat in Gachoka. My questions are: If at all Musyimi is driven by the desire to help the people of Gachoka, what has he done for them in all those years that he has been a national leader? How has his involvement in the community affairs been? To what extent does he identify with the problems of Gachoka people? As a man of God, how has he contributed to the spiritual nourishment of the souls in Gachoka? Its sad to admit that I have never heard of him in any of the churches in my parish till recently when in an endeavour to woo the people in my parish he stood on the pulpit to deliver the word! What plans does he have to curb the tribal divisions and enemity prevalent in Gachoka? How does he plan to maintain his integrity as a man of God in politics? At the moment, the way he is carrying out his campaigns is wanting, of a man of God. He should be careful lest he misses out on the blessings of the kingdom. The Gachoka electorate should be careful to identify those aspirants whose desire is to grant them proper representation in parliament and those that are just hungry for power. Am not saying that Musyimi is hungry for power but it is for the discerning to judge for themselves.
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