Why Narc is gradually losing direction
In his book, Principle-centred Leadership, Stephen Covey differentiates between following a map or following a compass in managing state affairs. Through a simple illustration, he shows why it is unwise to follow a map.
Imagine an individual at point A intending to go to point B who obtains directions (or map) from someone who has used the same route before. The map gives the following information:
Follow this road for about five kilometres until you reach a junction where a large tree can be seen to the left. Turn right here and go about one kilometre, and point B will be 200 yards from where an elderly woman is selling bananas.
Clearly, arrival at the right destination depends on whether the large tree is still standing and the elderly woman is still selling bananas at the same spot. Unlike a map, a compass has a true north that is objective and not subject to change.
Similarly, management by following a map-like strategy is of limited worth in a changing world.
Towards the end of his tenure, President Moi's leadership related perfectly with management. It followed an outdated map. Based on his view of the mentality of Kenyans whom he had ruled for decades, he expected the map to take him to a familiar desired destination.
Unfortunately, the map did not provide the professor of politics with an adjusted view of Kenyan society. Instead, it led him to unfamiliar territory, where his audience could shout him down to his face.
During the period leading to the 2002 General Election, a number of politicians were obsessed with the idea (destination) of removing Kanu and Mr Moi from power. They pursued avenues, including accelerated opposition unity, perhaps at the expense of fundamental democratic principles.
Understandably, the concept of an accelerated opposition unity, coming less than a month before election, was necessary to remove Kanu and Mr Moi�s project from power.
But it was not sufficient to usher in meaningful change where democratic processes are recognised and respected. It is my opinion that, here a map rather than a compass, was used.
The destination was an elected president who is consistently being reminded that he owes his success to a few politicians who handed him the presidency on a silver platter.
The spirit of the contagious Memorandum of Understanding between the National Alliance Party of Kenya and the Liberal Democratic Party was guidance of the true compass. At the time, the participants expressed their commitment to issues like providing for a government of national unity and completing the constitutional review.
Since then, shifts have occurred. Some were evident even before the General Election votes were fully counted. Midway through counting, it was clear Narc had won the presidency.
Raila Odinga announced that Narc would not honour its commitment to form a government of national unity. The rationale was to have a strong opposition to keep the Government in check.
I have, however, been made to understand that providing for a government of national unity was one item of the MoU signed between NAK and LDP. Mr Odinga, therefore, started the process of departure from the MoU and the rest is history.
Yet he was later the staunchest defender of the other items in the MoU. On this, Mr Odinga lost focus of the true north compass and followed the wrong route on the map. The destination is rather obvious.
For several years prior to the election, many leaders, in advocating change, articulated a need for national unity, constitution-making and strengthening the institutions. Then, their view seemed to be following the compass. Now they seem to be following some specific map. A few cases.
The composition of President Kibaki�s government, including the Cabinet, may have a national representation, but it lacks the spirit of national unity. The most damaging is the manner in which the President seems to recycle some of President Kenyatta�s leadership patterns.
Although a tribally or a regionally homogeneous composition of the kitchen Cabinet is not unique to the current president, these issues combined have led to the perception that President Kibaki is a regional rather than national leader. In effect, he has abandoned following the compass and instead has opted for a 30-year-old map.
Sometimes the impression is created that some leaders deliberately choose to follow the wrong route on the map even when they see the correct one via a compass. They hope that the public will follow the same wrong map. Let me illustrate.
In terms of legal and human rights issues, Mr Kiraitu Murungi is a knowledgeable man. He demonstrated his abilities for years when he fought and defended human rights. Indeed, he demonstrated that he followed the compass with a true north, and not a map.
However, as the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, he argued that former President Moi cannot get pension unless he retires from politics.
There are two questions for Mr Murungi. Does he expect Kenyans to follow the same map? Other than death or serious disability, what in Mr Murungi�s opinion marks an individual�s retirement from politics?
As for President Kibaki�s recent declaration that all Narc affiliate parties cease to exist, it may seem justified since Narc MPs were not sponsored to Parliament by their respective parties, but by Narc.
But some in the LDP have described the message as "tantamount to dictatorship". Regardless of where the President goes next regarding this issue, he can be sure of one consequence.
In Stephen Covey�s language, the declaration helped Mr Kibaki to make a heavy withdrawal from the emotional bank account, the spirit under which Narc was founded.
This bank account is quickly approaching a zero balance. Any more withdrawals will lead to a negative balance with serious consequences.
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Dr Bagakas is a professor of educational research and statistics at Cleveland State University, USA.
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