On the ground, things are different, Mr President

Leonard Khafafa  Cyril Ramaphosa and Uhuru Kenyatta (pictured), are presidents of South Africa and Kenya respectively. Both are leaders of countries in the top tier of Africa’s largest economies by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Their countries have diversified economies reliant on agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, services sector, technology and banking. They have had strong growth trends only dipping in recent years. The two presidents are currently grappling with uncannily similar challenges. They face massive corruption within the ranks of government—the looting of State coffers precipitated by rogue elements in the administrations of their predecessors. Both have high levels of public debt as a share of GDP; South Africa at 56 per cent and Kenya at nearly 63 per cent. The bleak forecast is that with current trends of feckless borrowing, the figure could rise to an insolvency-inducing 70 per cent. Revenue from tax for both countries is down and projected to fall even further. The unemployment rate continues to rise, currently at 29 per cent in South Africa, while Kenya continues a sustained downward trajectory of industrial closure and massive layoffs. SEE ALSO :Ramaphosa asks court to seal certain documents in legal battle
But that’s where the similarities end. President Ramaphosa is a self-made billionaire whereas his counterpart Mr Kenyatta is a scion of one of Kenya’s wealthiest families. Mr Ramaphosa honed his leadership skills in the trade union movement. These skills served him well in negotiating South Africa’s independence from the white apartheid government. They also helped him grow his vast business enterprises. Little is known of Kenyatta’s business or professional life. His foray into politics was at the instigation of powerful mentors who showed him the ropes. He has used his family name and fortune to inveigle himself into the country’s leadership. Ramaphosa is not responsible for South Africa’s economic decline. The pillaging of State coffers happened under his predecessor Jacob Zuma. But Ramaphosa has demonstrated that he has the bona fides to get his country back on track, even if, slower than anticipated by those who elected him to office. He has not given in to populist pressure to “put people in jail”, arguing that it is not his job to arrest people but to “strengthen institutions that must do their work.” Kenyatta’s situation is the polar opposite of his South African counterpart. Under his administration, graft has proliferated to the extent that a third of the nation’s budget is lost to the vice. To his credit, Kenyatta has instigated what is arguably the largest purge of corrupt elements in the nation’s history.

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But he has weakened rather than strengthened some key institutions necessary for the purge to succeed. The nation’s Judiciary’s subventions have been cut, threatening the administration of justice. Parliament, one of the arms of government meant to provide checks and balances alongside the Judiciary, appears to be under Executive capture. Uhuru has maintained a studious silence in the face of mounting criticism over an economy that appears to be headed towards collapse. He seems inured to the changes of subliminal messaging that show citizen progression from casual indifference to mounting anger. SEE ALSO :Ramaphosa wins latest round of legal fight with anti-corruption watchdog
At first, it was “pambana na hali yako” Kiswahili for “mind your business and let government get on with its own”. Then it progressed to “bora uhai,” literally, “as long as one is alive, little else matters.” Now there is a worrying militarism in the phrase “kwa ground, vitu ni different,” meaning “things are different on the ground”. This has gathered currency to reflect the indifference of leaders who are not in touch with the plight of citizens on the ground.

Travel overseas

The last phrase has a certain poignancy where Kenyatta is concerned. He is seldom on the ground, preferring to travel overseas by air on state business of an indeterminate nature. So far, of his 31 international trips in 21 months, there appears to be no evident of tangible value to the country. No goodies to citizens, like those of Paul Kagame of Rwanda whose visit has ensured visa-free access to Qatar by Rwandese of all walks of life. None from the numerous countries visited that could benefit from the export of Kenya’s fresh produce. Instead, just infrastructural developments from the orient that may have the country in hock to usurious lenders for another generation. Our President may not have the pizzazz of Ramaphosa but he owes it to the country to show leadership; to show the way out of the current economic morass. A starting point would be to come down to earth where “kwa ground, vitu ni different!”  Mr Khafafa is a public policy analyst