Uhuru the pan-Africanist and a disappointed Winnie

By MWENDA wa MICHENI | Friday, April 12  2013

It was last Tuesday when Uhuru Kenyatta finally assumed his responsibilities as the fourth president of Kenya.

Ahead of him were presidents Mwai Kibaki, Daniel arap Moi and the late Jomo Kenyatta. All the three had their distinct styles that marked their era.

In the case of President Moi, he followed in the footsteps of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, with whom he served the country as the vice-president for over a decade.

Jomo Kenyatta loved choral music, Moi too. But it is Moi who went ahead to make political capital out of the choirs, mostly composed of women groups and loyal teachers drawn from different schools across the country. In his time, up to 24 years, choirs metamorphosed into a powerful political network that shaped opinion, in a very interesting ways, both as propaganda mouthpieces and as a political point of mobilisation

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Radio stations would play to the likes of the leader depending on the political season. Schools and other institutions also pledged their loyalty through choral music, often earning themselves a few dimes and favours.

President Moi also tried to keep hold of the nation, especially through regular visits to the villages. Often, these trips were used to project government policies, but even more importantly to the leader, as a way of spreading his political charm. This helped him retain political power to a good extent.

Mr Kibaki was not a Moi copycat in many respects, despite having served under the latter as vice-president for years. Instead of the flamboyant visits and musical projects, the golf-loving leader opted to command his troops from State House. This had its downside, but with a new road here, a hospital there, the leader survived.

As he handed the instruments of power to President Uhuru, there were indications the new leader was exploring his path. The youthful singers took over from the groups of traditional dancers, for the main ceremony. But it was his clear message that outlined Mr Uhuru's resolve, reflected in his speech, anthems that were played and the list of guests who appeared for the occasion.

In his speech laced with the pan-African ideals, Uhuru was clear that Africans must stand up to be counted, not as a weakling, but as an important player in global affairs. This was echoed in President Yoweri Museveni, who spoke on behalf of the region.

Health troubles

With cases at the Hague, Kenya's newly elected leaders seem keen to discredit anyone suggesting that the future of the continent was fully dependent on the West.

In fact, they stressed on the need for increased intra-Africa trade, to boost the continent's chances.

All said, the International Criminal Court cases around their necks will greatly shape Africa's interaction with the rest of the world in the next years, which ever way they go.

Already, Africa has taken a position on the court, especially now that China, which has increasingly become a big player in global issues, seems close to Africans.

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Former South African President Nelson Mandela was discharged from hospital last week, after spending some days there, a few months after he was hospitalised again in December to January.

Mr Mandela's recent health troubles have South Africans coming to terms with their hero's frailty.

While briefing the nation, on the state of Mandiba's health, President Jacob Zuma revisited his (Zuma's) old reality.

He said that people "must not panic" urging them to "slow down the anxiety".

"Of course I have been saying to people, you should bear in mind Madiba is no longer that young and if he goes for check-ups every now and again, I don't think people must be alarmed about it. I would like to really say the country must not panic," President Zuma said.

In the mix of flowers, get-well-soon cards and praises from different quarters, there was a reflection. But it was Mandela's former wife Winnie who spoke about what many have tried to avoid.

"This name Mandela is an albatross around the necks of my family," she told the London Evening Standard before explaining how, in her consideration, the icon of anti-apartheid struggle betrayed Black Africans.

"He agreed to a bad deal for the blacks. Economically, we are still on the outside. The economy is very much 'white'. It has a few token blacks, but so many who gave their life in the struggle have died unrewarded," argued Winnie.

So did he ?

Email: mmicheni@ke.nationmedia.co.ke; Twitter: wamicheni.