Mwai Kibaki leads NARC to sweeping win, breaking grip of ruling party

Kenyan opposition cruises to victory.

Mwai Kibaki leads NARC to sweeping win, breaking grip of ruling party

“He said he would propose legislation that would require top officials to declare their wealth and break with longtime traditions like hanging the president’s photograph in shops and offices throughout the country.”

Heh, heh. A little less ego than American Presidents, eh?

Unfortunately, corruption is built-in to the economic fabric. For instance, lower-level government officials aren’t paid much, there isn’t the money. The government counts on graft, much the way restaurant owners count on tips to pay much of the wages.

This is a great start, and if they are to become a viable democracy this is how it would look. And, it’s uphill, the economic inertia doesn’t move in a constructive direction. Kenya was rated the most corrupt country in the world for years, might have been overtaken by some of the areas with no real government.

At 71, though, this guy might not have to sell out the way a younger man would. But if he does reform things too fast, he’s liable to wind up dead.

And if the first or second thing he does is trot off to the World Bank, it’s over. A large chunk of cash to be paid back by the nation has proven well-nigh irresistible to many, many rulers, not just African.

Arf