When MWAI KIBAKI fell out with the BRITIS
Long after independence the British continued to wield great influence in Kenya. A huge settler population, European businesses and Kenya’s economy that was tied to Britain, meant that the British had a say in the leadership of Kenya.
In mid 1966 Kenyatta suffered a minor thrombosis in the leg. Although the blood clot was dispersed successfully he continued to suffer from recurrent phlebitis. He also had a weak heart.
Because of Kenyatta’s state of health, the question “after Kenyatta what?” was clearly emblazoned across the backcloth of the Kenyan scene. The British were really concerned about who was to take charge after Kenyatta’s death.
Those being considered as possible successors were James Gichuru (Minister for Finance), Mwai Kibaki (Minister for Commerce and Industry), and Njoroge Mungai (Minister for Defence).
However, there were also objections to each of these candidates; to Gichuru that he was a chronic diabetic and alcoholic, to Kibaki that he was too young and academic, and to Mungai that he was venal and frivolous.
Vice President Daniel arap Moi was also being put under consideration, but largely as a front man; for it was said that his performance as number “two does not suggest that he is of presidential timber.”
According to the British the above did not necessarily constitute the best men available, but the most able alternative was Tom Mboya. However , he was “gravely out of favour with those who would seek to rig the succession to have much chance”, of ascending to leadership.
On 4 September 1967, the British High Commissioner had a discussion with Beth Mugo and her husband on who was the best person to succeed her uncle. According to the conversation referenced polz 78/19/3F , Mugo said that among the Kikuyu there was no-one outstandingly qualified to succeed her uncle.
Mugo said that in her opinion and that of her moderate and educated Kikuyu friends, Tom Mboya had sheer ability to be President of Kenya one day, and that “Kenya could not afford to waste him.”
She added that Mwai Kibaki (Minister of Commerce and Industry) was another long-term contender and as a Kikuyu had a particularly good chance when he was older.
Even though, Moi eventually succeeded Kenyatta because of his position as vice-president the British still had an interest in Mwai Kibaki. They looked to the prospect of Kibaki’s playing a major part in setting a new tone in Government and business life under the new régime of Moi.
As the British High Commissioner wrote:
“We have, as you know, always seen Mwai Kibaki. the Minister of Finance and Planning as one of the up-and coming Kenya politicians of the new order, as well as being one of the main supports of Moi in the post-Kenyatta régime.
” Kibaki is a politician with impeccable Kikuyu credentials, although as a Nyeri Kikuyu he has been a focus for the younger businessmen and others who wish to break away from the dead hand of the Kiambu Kikuyu identified with the Kenyatta family and many of the former President’s cronies, who misused the influence they acquired under Kenyatta’s Presidency.”
They started viewing him as a potential protégé who could be used to replace Moi who was a “passing cloud.”
However , this cordial relationship between Kibaki and the British came under great strain when Kibaki, Geoffrey Kariithi among other prominent politicians came together to acquire Fiat Kenya Ltd, to rival British oriented Leyland (Kenya), General Motors and AVA which had enjoyed monopoly in vehicle assembly.
The background about this is that in 1975/6 three vehicle assembly plants were licensed and they were Leyland (Kenya) Ltd, General Motors Ltd and Associated Vehicle Assemblers Ltd (AVA).
(AVA) was owned by a group of distributors with the main interest held by McKenzie (Kenya) Ltd, and they assembled Fords, Volvos and several other makes of foreign vehicles.)
Under a Legal Notice gazetted in 1975 import licences were to be restricted and penal duties imposed from 1 July 1977 on certaincategories of fully made up vehicles or simple kits, thus affording protection to licensed vehicle assembly companies who were required by that time to reach a level of local content and local added value of around 30%.
In addition, each of the three licensed plants was given written assurances at the time of their establishment which differed in some details but gave a general unequivocal undertaking that no more assembly plants would be licensed without their agreement. This meant AVA, Leyland and General Motors had to be consulted first before any new vehicle assembly was established in Kenya.
For almost a year FIAT through connivance with local politicians, tried to overcome this embargo and establish a fourth plant in Kenya to break the British monopoly.
As a result, on 15 September 1978, Mwai Kibaki as minister for finance and planning issued a formal notice in the Kenya Government Gazette which had the effect of not only adding a Fiat plant to the other three authorised to conduct local vehicle assembly but also of legitimising the imports which Fiat had bringing into the country against the law that banned such imports in July 1977.
This Fiat Kenya Limited was acquired by a local Kenyan African group in which the leading lights were Mwai Kibaki and Geoffrey Kariithi, Secretary to the President and to the Cabinet.
The British were not happy with this development with one official at the Foreign Office lamenting:
“It is disturbing…. to have clear recent evidence that Kibaki is mixed up in a commercial issue which both adversely affects certain British interests and undoubtedly compromises his own position.”
