To avert disaster Uhuru Kenyatta must Learn from Moi.

Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi is a name many do not associate with a lot of good in the history of Kenya’s political leadership. During his leadership, so much happened. Groans and grumbles begun, of his leadership after the failed 1982 attempted coup and to be fair to the man, much of what he became after that unfortunate coup attempt was a direct reaction to the event. He became fearful and careful; intolerant and reactionary; brutal and prompt. He led by an iron fist. Those who were grown then will tell you he was cunning as a fox and his moves became as unpredictable as the coming of Christ. In private, he was feared like hell while in public he cut the figure of a very friendly fellow, easily tickled by a funny remark, and often rushing to join and jig with a welcoming band of school kids or local women dancing a happy welcome folk for him. Moi was a phenomenon.

In our current politics, we have at our disposal two of Moi’s best students in president Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto (or three if you consider Raila’s short stint in Moi’s political classroom significant). They are now two of the most dominant players in our political arena. Anybody who cares to be honest can agree that President Kenyatta II has in many occasions shown traits that are reminiscent of the late retired president’s days in office. His attempt to control the judiciary via an illegal attempt at amending the constitution, the fact that the police now seem to notice and discover economic crimes committed only by nearly everyone who chooses to be against him, his control of the police through security amendment laws 2015, name it, have often sparked fear and worry in many a citizen who care about democracy.

President Moi, however, in the 2002 election pulled a very unexpected surprise in accepting the results of the election of Mwai Kibaki as president. It was a surprise due to the fact that many expected him to cling power or attempt rigging the election in favour of his man, Uhuru Kenyatta. It was later to be revealed by William Ruto that even his very students went to statehouse expecting him to do ‘SOMETHING' with regard to the way the election was going before Kivuitu announced Kibaki as president elect. In that election, Moi did two admirable things; he refused to meddle in the work the defunct ECK and he ordered his man, Uhuru to concede defeat. Anyone who was alive during that election can tell you that had Moi not done these things, perhaps we could have had a worse situation than 2007.

This is the lesson that I hope president Uhuru Kenyatta learns from is mentor. He has the unique opportunity to play the exact same card to avoid calamity. He must not meddle with Chebukati and his commission. He must be ready to order his man, whoever that may be, to concede defeat if it happens that things don't go his way. But more importantly, Uhuru is in a unique position because he can allow the country to go into the election with both front runners as his men. This will mean he can have influence on both and can order either of them to concede whichever way the election goes and as long as he lets the election be free and fair. The president must cut significantly the influence his cabinet and principal secretaries have on various agencies to avoid stupid actions that may plunge the country into anarchy. As the African adage goes, he must remove the hand of monkey from the pot of soup before it turns to human hand.

The president must resist the temptation to be engulfed in the hate that goes on in politics and his government. He must leave behind a country —well, not so much economically— a peaceful one at least. Any action that may lead to what has now become widely expected in nearly all elections, as was the case in 2002, must be managed the same way Moi did. Otherwise we’ll have another visit by ICC. Except this time, the suspects won’t have many defenders especially if they seemingly have no future in politics.