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Kenyan Political Family Refuses Cash Shock

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It was difficult to feel optimistic about Kenya's post-crisis power-sharing deal. It seemed a classic case of jobs for the boys in a giant cabinet while the tribal and land tensions that exploded into violence had been left to fester. Although many Kenyans hailed the arrival of Raila Odinga as prime minister, many others thought he was yet another politician who had learned his trade in the dark, corrupt Moi years. (The best road in Kenya remains the one that leads to his lakeside house built, I believe, when he was roads minister). But since then Raila has done his best to suggest he may be the mouldbreaking politician his supporters have always claimed. He has been one of the most consistently outspoken African leaders on Mugabe. And then today it emerges his wife Ida has refused a generous government salary offered to her for "projecting a positive image of our nation's family values".
"In addition, the Government recognises your wise counsel and guidance which contribute to the public good in the course of nation building activities, besides playing hostess during national and other official public engagements," read the letter obtained by The Standard newspaper. "In view of the above, and in order to compensate for the above services," the letter said, the State had approved a monthly payment for her of Sh400,000 and allowances when she travels "within and outside the country on official engagements".
Of course, if I was to be cynical, the whole thing may well have been a stunt to give the Railas an opportunity to refuse the money. But accusing politicans of politicking seems to miss the point. Stunt or not, this lays down a challenge to the whole of the Kenyan public sector and suggests Raila may be trying to deliver on his promise of a new way of doing things.

6 Comments

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Victor Ngeny | September 3, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply

I think if it was not for the outcry around the money she would not decline. Maybe am wrong!

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bankelele | September 3, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply

I think it's a shrewd move on her part, and she didn't need it anyway, or ask for it.

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Anonymous | September 3, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply

Ngeny, I've seen plenty of Kenyan politicians happy to ignore public anger in the past few years.

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Toaf | September 3, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply

Your last paragraph hits the nail on the head, for my mind. It's also important that you note Raila's position on Mugabe. Anyway, I hope you're right. Could be just what Kenyan politics needs.

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Anonymous | September 3, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply

My jury is still out. I think Raila will walk out in a couple of years time on some spurious, engineered policy grounds, and resume his campaign to become president. But in the meantime he's playing a pretty canny game. With Kibaki's "hands off" style of management (ie incapable of doing much) the coast is clear for Raila to shape the administration. It is Raila now that people go to with their problems, it was Raila pictured with Gordon Brown and it would be interesting to compare the number of times the PM has been on the front pages in the past 6 months with the number of times the head of state has made it on.

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Toaf | September 3, 2008 7:15 PM | Reply

I'd certainly agree that he's likely to resume the presidential road at some point. If a few new ways of doing politics take hold in the meantime then all the better.

What do you think?