I'll Make Kenya a First World Country if Elected President, US-Based Kenyan Lawyer Makau Mutua Says
US-based Kenyan lawyer Prof. Makau Mutua has confirmed he will be on the presidential ballot during the 2022 general elections.
Makau, who declared an interest in the country's topmost political seat last week, says he's serious about it.
Speaking to the Sunday Standard, the 61-year-old scholar says he will campaign on a promise of eradicating corruption, malgovernance, and mediocrity.
“I want to change Kenya. I have been teaching and writing about State transformation for decades."
"I have advised governments and international organizations about it forever. Yet my own country is mired in mediocrity, corruption, and malgovernance,” he explains.
Makau says he seeks to transform Kenya from a third-world to a country with first world status.
“I want to bring our country into First World status. I can and will do it if our people give me the opportunity,” he notes.
Mutua supported opposition leader Raila Odinga's bid for the presidency in 2013 and 2018.
He was among 10 candidates who applied for the Chief Justice's post following the retirement of former CJ Willy Mutunga, but he was not shortlisted.
The former Dean of University at Buffalo Law School has taught in several US law schools, including at Harvard Law School.
"I would run (for President) not because of blind ambition, like some past candidates, but because I believe I have the best policy prescriptions and moral standing that dwarf any other candidate," said Mutua last week.
Comments (18)
Good luck sir! Only problem is that you draw your inspiration from the US, itself a First World but mired in a lot of psycho-socio-economic problems of it's own - racism, drugs, suicide, gun shooting, individualism / loneliness etc Most of us Africans are simply incapable of developing our very own definition of what we really mean by the term "development" Is it the mere pursuit of increasing incomes and acquiring more toys, like the west? What truly makes us human beings happier? We are luckier than the west in that we can see first hand what it means to be First World (they didn't have first world during their developing years) and we have the very unique opportunity to come up with something far much better and thereby avoid the pitfalls of the west. But when learned men like Prof Makau sets out to vie for the presidency with the singular aim of simply transforming Kenya into a First World without asking some critical questions, you are left to wonder....there's a lot more going in the pursuit of happiness than simply transforming Kenya into a First World
@Mlachake, this is the best comment I have heard this year from you! so perfect that I can't add no more.
Makau Mutua should know:
1. Elections in Kenya are rigged.
2. If you’re rigged in you can steal as much as you want because your very existence in the political arena is based on electoral fraud.
3. Even if Makau Mutua wins, majority of leaders working under him and with him will be rigged in and with no legitimacy. Therefore, they have no obligations to the people.
Basically, all am saying politicians who have been rigged in by a compromised electoral system should not be criticized or condemned for stealing.
Otherwise, Goodluck to Makau Mutua.
I support secession.
A.
Candidate for Presidential Election (and Running Mate)
Qualifications:
1. Must be a Kenyan citizen by birth 2. Is qualified to stand for election as a member of Parliament 3. Must not hold dual citizenship 4. Must not owe allegiance to a foreign state 5. Must be a registered voter 6. Is a holder of a degree from a University recognized in Kenya 7. Is nominated by a Political Party or is an independent candidate
Read point number three be4 you even think about it..
Dual citizen No chance 4 u
Dual citizens are not acceptable BUT crimes against humanity suspects, killers , murderers , terrorists , landgrabbers and thieves are welcome.
Point taken.
Secession here we come.
https://www.iebc.or.ke/uploads/resources/D2CtRkduPk.pdf
The Prof is too emotive and easily takes side to be the kind of leader he imagines he could be. If your country is "mired in mediocrity, corruption, and malgovernance" while you advised others governments forever, then I guess that is what they call academic arrogance and practical hypocrisy. The guy burnt lots and lots of bridges during his age of agitation and he too is burnt out(Like the mutungas, koigis, karuas, imanyaras name them). Truly Kenya (and any nation) is never short of leaders. Though generations of our leaders are mostly corrupt and inept, there are many good men and women who could make effective leaders but their abilities have been buried in wake of our tribalism, nepotism, materialism and sheer indiscipline in society. But if its just a matter of being in the ballot Prof., you are in and good luck.
Mandugu, don’t be dismissive, he has a vision, can you say that from any of the current politicians?
Run! Many Kenyan want a clean break with current crop of leaders who are just looters of taxes. They want a new beginning.
Ikiwa Ndugu Wafula Chebukati yungali kiongozi wa tume ya IEBC, Ndugu yangu Mutua hutaweza kufaulu uchaguzi wa Kenya. Imeonekana mara nyingi ya kwamba Wafula hafai kusimamia tume ya uchaguzi na ajabu ni kuwa, mpaka hata sasa, wananchi wamenyamaza kimya kama Wakamba wanavyosema, "...Ta ngi syi kikuuni."
He wont pass this two points
3. Must not hold dual citizenship 4. Must not owe allegiance to a foreign state
Unless Katiba ibadirishwe ama IEBC Requirement..alternatively to denounce his citizenship and wait 10 years be4 he runs 4 prezzo
Make yourself first World Politician before making Kenya first World country. What makes you think Kenyans can elect you to be their President if villagers in your Ukambani village cannot elect you a school board member. Stop dreaming!!!. I think you eat a wrong bird(Vulture maybe) and is causing you to have a lot of bad hallucination
Hehehehe kenya hatutaki mashoga wa usa to
distabilize our beautiful kenya!
Mr law professor, you have been professing for too long. You are a good theorist, (you have been teaching and writing) what Kenya needs is practicals and in this area you are lacking.
Kenya needs one who will respect our ways!! You are not that one!
...Not to belittle the Teaching profession, but its members always have beautiful theoretical solutions to problems that don't work on the ground. Of what use is a well thought out manifesto, if it doesn't work? As someone said a long time ago, those who can, do, and those who can't, teach.
This professor has tarnished his name by writing tribal based articles. He's not only myopic, he's also a big social misfit. He's no leadership qualities.
He can be good President if elected, but here in Kenya leaders are rigged in and not elected.Professor try your luck.May the system might accept you.
Mutua is crazy! What does he mean by first world? I have lived in the USA for 20 years and I still think that Kenya is a heaven but the people living there do not really know how lucky they are