Browsing by Author "Muna, Wilson K."

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    Deconstructing Intergenerational Politics Between ‘Young Turks’ and ‘Old Guards’ in Africa: An Exploration of the Perceptions on Leadership and Governance In Kenya
    (Routledge Taylor and Francis Group, 2014-05-21) Muna, Wilson K.; Stanton, Anne; Mwau, Diana M.
    Arguably, political leadership in Africa has been characterized as an occupation of the old. This has spurred heightened intergenerational conflicts, which pre-existed the formation of independent nation states. Conflicts over power and leadership among young and older generations were evident, and still are, in many traditional African societies. Such relationships continue within contemporary social, economic and cultural contexts. Aside fromethnicity being at the heart of defining political developments in Kenya, the ‘generation card’ is often invoked in the unfolding of political reform and democratic space. This paper interrogates the emergent relationship between ‘Young Turks’ (those characterized as ‘young’, full of ideas and impatient for change) and ‘Old Guards’ (those believed to be unwilling to change and accept new ideas), and questions its relevance for social, political and economic policy. It reveals how public space in Kenyan polity has been controlled by its older generations, who maintain a firm grip on the country’s resources. It concludes by calling for a meaningful intergenerational dialog, where both young and old share ideas on how best to proceed on Kenya’s path to social, political and economic development.
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    Leadership and Political Corruption in Kenya: Analysis of the 2010 Constitutional Provisions on the Presidency
    (School of Social Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2013) Mutula, Stephen; Muna, Wilson K.; Koma, Geoffrey P.
    This article is an attempt to establish a link between the abuse of power in the Presidency, and how this manipulation has been addressed by the new Constitution 2010 in Kenya. This study has reviewed available literature to interrogate this correlation. Rampant corruption that has contributed to a huge loss of resources in Kenya has been attributed to the arbitrary power vested in the executive. Following Independence in 1963, Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of the Republic of Kenya, concentrated on amassing political power under the control of the central government. Moi, his successor from 1978, continued this legacy by tightening the control of Kenyan public life in all spheres, including politics, administration, and management of public finance. The presidency took over control of almost all the sectors of the Kenyan economy. Moreover, it had control over the state’s finances with little, if any, accountability. This study has found out that corruption in Kenya has notoriously revolved around the Presidency and those who demonstrated loyalty to the ruling elite. Consequently, this central control was evident in the imbalance in regional development. The abuse of power and inefficiency of the three presidencies of Kenyatta, Moi and Kibaki left Kenya susceptible to poor social, political and economic development. It is noteworthy that the Constitution 2010 has launched relevant institutions that have the potential of enhancing checks and balances in managing public resources. If these institutions deliver according to the mandate accorded them, there is a true promise in curbing corruption and maintaining good and accountable governance in Kenya.