When Mwai Kibaki was sworn in as President of Kenya on December 30, 2002 to succeed Daniel Moi, the country was facing myriad problems mainly stemming from years of mismanagement and corruption under the Moi administration.
Kibaki made several landmark achievements during his first term as president, including the introduction of free primary education, improvement of agriculture, and development of infrastructure.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics data, by the end of the President Kibaki’s first term in office, infrastructure plans had been implemented, students in public primary schools had started learning free of charge, the number of public universities had been increased and economic growth had shot up to 7.1 per cent.
In 2008, the economy suffered one of its major setbacks following post-election violence that engulfed the country after the disputed General Election and this has remained a stain on the president’s legacy.
The mayhem resulted in formation of the Grand Coalition Government with his nemesis Raila Odinga during his second term.
During this period, many of the infrastructure projects which were started during the President’s first term were completed and the long-term ones started.
A new Constitution, which was promulgated on August 27 2010, set off a series of reforms which shifted power to a number of independent institutions including the Judiciary, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, County Transition Authority, National Police Service and the National Land Commission.
Kibaki was active on the political scene from the early days of Kenya’s independence and worked in various government positions.
In 1963, he was elected to the Kenyan Parliament and continued to serve in various roles until he was appointed Minister of Finance and Economic Planning by President Jomo Kenyatta, in 1969.
In Moi’s cabinet, Kibaki was initially entrusted with the Finance portfolio. As minister of Finance, he introduced measures and changes that brought a degree of prosperity to Kenya. In 1982, he was given the portfolio of Home Affairs.
The retired President also served as Othaya MP between 1974 and 2013.
As Kenyans celebrate Moi’s Day on Thursday, October 10th, they have been renewed calls to have Kibaki’s Day too with many postulating that history would judge the former Othaya MP as the greatest president Kenya has ever had.
Below are some of the reactions:
I do believe former president Kibaki is the unsung hero of this country among the presidents Kenya has had since independence ..he took over a shell of an economy but left it stable .. it’s hypocritical to celebrate Moi .we know all his ills we can’t make him a saint #MoiDay
— Juma_Juma (@IamFidel2) October 8, 2019
We should have something, even a day to remember Kibaki like we have #MoiDay tomorrow. For all I care Kibaki emancipated us from economic slavery. That is something!
— Ian Prince ™🇰🇪 (@Mutugian_K) October 9, 2019
It’s really sad we don’t have Kibaki day,the best President Kenya produced ,instead of celebrating a dictator who orchestrated the biggest heist in the economy #MoiDay #eliudkipchoge pic.twitter.com/qgzgcGoDsI
— Chris 🇮🇱 Topher 🇰🇪 (@C_K_Lomaria) October 9, 2019
A Kibaki Day is long overdue.
We’re resting on #MoiDay, the same Moi who maimed thousands of his competitors while we have no day to appreciate Kibaki for his brilliant leadership on matters economy?
It’s a shame to the old man.— L E G E N D (@steveshakur) October 9, 2019
Is it possible to have a “Kibaki Day” in Kenya? He is an unsung Hero.
— judy mureithi (@kajudie) October 9, 2019
But tuko na ubaguzi hii kenya mbona hakuna siku ya kusherehekea kibaki day🙄🙄🙄🇰🇪
Comrades wa #KenyattaUniversity muangalie hiyo pia next😂😂
— #KOTloyals🇰🇪🇰🇪 (@ryckylaze) October 9, 2019
Some critics, however, had this to say;
Kibaki revived electoral rigging after Moi actually accepted the outcome of the 2002 General Election…. Kibaki does not deserve an hour …. let alone a day…. his legacy is night time swearing ins, rigging, and coordinating mungiki at statehouse.
— Ice_Prior_Molten (@prior_ice) October 9, 2019
Ideally, ‘Kibaki’ wasn’t the best as we think. But ‘coz the likes of ‘Ruto’ are so mediocre, our standards have gone too low as to think Kibaki was some kinda angel. Our leadership standards are so so low that when we see people like Kibaki we see a saviour! #KOTLoyalsOnly
— The Alpha (@I_am_AlphaX1) October 9, 2019
We can only remember kibaki for the killings of over 1500 kenyans for him to remain in power even after being defeated by Raila.
— olesh (@jaredolenge) October 9, 2019
Should we have Kibaki Day celebrations?