Election 2002 
Sunday, December 8, 2002 

Has the political maturity we have been yearning for as a nation finally dawned on us? The events of the past few days, involving National Rainbow Coalition presidential candidate Mwai Kibaki are proving to be part of the test of that maturity.

The news of Mr Kibaki's accident on Mombasa highway on Tuesday night, could not have come at a worse time for the Narc. It's a setback, coming within less than a month to the elections, and considering that Mr Kibaki is now in hospital, when he should be on the road in search of votes. 

But interestingly, on receiving the sad news, the fact that the Narc threatens to end Kanu's reign didn't dissuade President Moi from sending a well-weighted message of sympathy, wishing Mr Kibaki quick recovery.

President Moi said in a statement that he had "learned of the accident with great sadness and shock". Also, it's instructive that Vice-President Musalia Mudavadi was among the many people, mostly opposition leaders and sympathisers, who visited Mr Kibaki in hospital to wish him well. This would have been unthinkable a few years ago, at the height of bitter hostility between the Kanu and the opposition. 

Mr Mudavadi's determination to see the opposition leader and wish him well was evident in the fact that he made not one, but two trips. During his first call at the hospital, he couldn't see Mr Kibaki, but he returned later in the afternoon, in the company of Medical Services Minister Maalim Mohamed and was able to have a chat with the injured leader.

In the charged acrimony that has often characterised relations between the Government and the opposition in the past, retiring President Moi would probably have ignored the news of Mr Kibaki's near fatal accident. In the past, he didn't even bother to send messages of condolence to families of dead anti-governmment figures. But this time round, his gesture is one of the best signals that it is possible to compete on the political arena and still care about the individual plight of our rivals.

Others messages of goodwill to Mr Kibaki have come from two fellow presidential contenders, Mr Simeon Nyachae and Mr James Orengo, who not only wished him quick recovery, but also hoped he would soon be back on the political campaign trail.

On this score, therefore, Kanu presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta's failure to visit Mr Kibaki in hospital or send him a word of sympathy, stands out like a sore thumb. Even if one assumes that President Moi and Mr Mudavadi spoke on behalf of Kanu and, therefore, Mr Kenyatta, one still feels that the youthful presidential contender probably missed a real great opportunity to show another side of himself.

Politics is, indeed, crucial but should never be a matter of life and death. Mature politics is about healthy competition for the national good. After all, the players in the national political arena have every five years to seek positions at the polls. And those who fail can always prepare and give it another shot later.

Another lesson from the Kibaki accident is that the presidential candidates are no longer the property of their parties. Each of them stands a chance of succeeding President Moi at the helm of this nation. Therefore, every effort must be made to enhance their security.

It's due to recognition of their utmost importance to the entire nation that the Electoral Commission of Kenya provides security detail and funding to the presidential candidates. They need to be acorded the right to freely sell themselves and their ideas in every corner of this country. After all, when one of them ascends to the leadership of this country, he will be the President of all Kenyans.

Another pointer to the growing political maturity is that unlike in 1992 and 1997, the presidential candidates have been traversing the entire country, seeking votes. The sealing-off of the so-called "strongholds" of certain parties hasn't happened this time. And, even more important, this year's election campaigns have not been preceded by the tribal clashes, in fact, ethnic cleansing of the past two elections.

As the election race hots up, there will be greater need for vigilance with the increased number of vehicles on the campaign trail. Also, as crowds gather at campaign rallies, a conducive atmosphere is created for those with anti-social or other ulterior motives. The police can't monitor all the roads to curb accidents nor can they provide the security needed at all the rallies.

But judging from the panic and numerous inquiries to newspapers and radio stations, following the Kibaki accident, the best way to deal with such a situation is to provide as accurate information as possible. Mr Kibaki's medical team, led by his personal physician, Dr Daniel Gikonyo, and the Narc leader's colleagues, Mr Raila Odinga, Mr Moody Awori, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka and others, deserve kudos for ensuring the flow of accurate information on his condition.

That Mr Kibaki was able to field questions from his hospital bed, information which was then relayed on radio and television, was the best way to ease public anxiety over the leader's safety. The Narc leader's own statement that this was purely an accident and he wouldn't blame anybody for it, was equally instructive. Where others would have tried to make capital out of such an unfortunate occurrence, Mr Kibaki has been unflinchingly truthful and honest.

This one incident has demonstrated that Kenyans are getting better at dealing with and processing adverse news about public figures. Hiding such vital information can only fuel speculation, rumours, and uncalled for anxiety, and could undermine national stability.

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