THE ROOTS OF POLITICAL STABILITY IN KENYA

Abstract

SINCE INDEPENDENCE, Kenya, a country devoid of substantial mineral resources, has enjoyed the two rare blessings of economic growth and political stability which make her a showpiece in Africa. Indeed, it is this political stability that has been Kenya's main economic asset. Kenya's political stability survived two major crises following the murders of Tom Mboya in 1969 and J. M. Kariuki in 1975. The assessment of one commentator in the aftermath of of Kariuki's murder that 'the remarkable political stability. .. is breaking up'1 has been proved wrong. Indeed, the fact that the country's political stability was so slightly affected by these crises points to the strength and resilience of its political system. Most commentators tend to attribute this stability to the charismatic leadership of Jomo Kenyatta, the President of Kenya. Referring to the divisive legacy of colonial Kenya John Hatch states that 'yet most remarkably, under the universally accepted leadership of Jomo Kenyatta... Kenya created one of the best examples in the continent of multi-ethnic stability .... It is true that this remarkable degree of unity centred almost entirely on the personality of Kenyatta.'2 Recently the same author, again referring to Kenyatta's personal role, said that he 'has earned a place in his country's affections unsurpassed in any African state.'3 Another Kenya analyst put it bluntly: 'The President has been the cornerstone of Kenya's stability since independence.'4 The local correspondent of an American newspaper subscribed to the same interpretation: 'President Kenyatta has easily weathered the crises besetting the last years of his rule mainly because he remains the father-figure of his country, more respected than feared. Kenyans affectionately call him Mzee-the old man.'5 These are but few examples of what seems to have become the conventional wisdom.