The idea has now been floated twice, that Kenya would use a benevolent dictator. I couldn’t agree more, based on the fact that some African countries have benefited from the style of leadership before.
On the outside it may look farfetched, in that dictatorships has long been associated with gross human rights abuses, and lack of basic freedoms such as that of speech and expression. Perhaps the question one can ask is: can you sacrifice these freedoms for development? For decent housing, for basic healthcare, education, for food security?
Well, I would without batting an eyelid. It is the same way Libya had operated with the fallen strongman Muammar Gaddafi. Libyans had the best housing, no external debt, food security, and couples were even paid after marriage – a whopping 50 thousand dollars.
Come to Kenya. You wake up early to vote in leaders that later abandon you for five years, and then come back filthy rich. The external debt is too much. The leaders focus on enriching themselves rather than enriching the people.
Another case in point is Thomas Sankara. Coming to power in a military coup in 1984, he led Burkina Fasa for only four years but the transformation is worth noting. He build infrastructure, immunized people, made it mandatory for people to wear locally made clothes and ensure that the Burkinabe people were food sufficient.
All these, he did without foreign help. It is unfortunate that he had to die, in the same way he came to power, but his ideas live on forever. With a committed leader who has the interest of the common man heart, much can be achieved.
However, nothing can be achieved especially when there are a lot of vested interests. Power brokers hold too much sway in decisions, and it would take the hand of a strong man to outwit them.
In Kenya, we need such a man. A man who will not tolerate corruption. A Matiang’i-like man. The transformations Matiang’i did in the ministry of education are laudable. He may not have been popular with cartels, but who needs cartels? They only destroy, for their own benefits.
A visionary iron fisted man is all Kenya needs. He must understand that Kenya is bigger than any individual, and let nothing stop at ridding the country of destructive elements. He or she must care about the people rather his or her cronies.