Acres of uncritical journalistic articles have been written in support of this claimed economic prowess of Kibaki administration. The subsequent ‘manufactured consent' has since been the primary electoral resource for the hobbling PNU campaign. 

Given the reluctance of the media to critically question these claims it has become incumbent upon us to enlighten the general public of the half truths and outright dishonesty bundled into these claims about Kibaki's alleged economic managerial skills. 

Facts not Acknowledged by PNU 

·        An economic recovery cannot be realized in a policy and implementation strategy vacuum. That the realized economic turn-around was based on the Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) is a simple fact that PNU likes to sweep under the carpet as such honesty will inevitably acknowledge the stewardship of Prof. Anyang in the process and hence dilute their propaganda about President Kibaki's proverbial economic prowess. The Kibaki administration has not undertaken any major policy review or change of fundamentals of the ERS since the resignation of ODM luminaries from the NARC government. Hence, to claim that Kibaki and thus PNU is the sole progenitor the economic turn around, despite relying on policy framework developed under NARC leadership is pure dishonesty.

·        Since the parting of ways of the key NARC leaders, the Kibaki administration has not effectively implemented the core pillars of the ERS specifically on governance and security. As we know, the PNU membership dragged the country in a protracted constitutional review process that was a mockery of the ambitious aims of NARC, among which was to give the country a suitable constitution. The protracted and ill-fated constitutional crisis had effectively denied the 9th parliament an opportunity to undertake the required reforms in governance, rule of law and security hence in effect arresting the potential benefit that would accruing from the fiscal side of the ERS.

·        Kenya's economic turn around is not without a regional economic context. Despite other contributory factors such as the ERS, the import of regional economic health into our own national performance cannot be wished away. Africa as a whole and sub-Sahara in particular has experienced an economic upturn in the last five years irrespective of their varying policy context. Uganda and Tanzania have consistently out-performed Kenya in terms of economic growth for the past decade. Hence portraying Kibaki's administration as miracle workers as far as the economic recovery is concerned is to pull facts from the air.

·        There has not been any thorough cost-effective analysis of the massive national resource wastage through mega-corruption such as the notorious Anglo-Leasing and other unreported Anglo-Leasing like scams. An absence of such critical analysis is lending itself to the slavish acceptance of Kibaki's purported economic management strength.

·        The majority of NARC's manifestorial promises to the country have not been achieved despite the existence of adequate policy framework and the general economic vibrancy. Employment is still chronically high, there is widespread insecurity, poverty is even more widespread and corruption is endemic. Political harassment of dissent political view reminiscent of Moi's era continued to be a cornerstone of Kibaki administration as was publicly demonstrated by attacks on Media Houses and the misuse of public resources and officials in the current campaign. 

To say that the economy is in better shape than it was during the post-NARC era is factually correct but to claim the said recovery as a result of the efforts of Kibaki is not only dishonest but contemptuous of the intelligence of the public. The sad and final twist of this whole propaganda effort is that media houses that have hitherto experienced the negative elements of President Kibaki's political arsenal are colluding in the entrenchment and perpetuation of this lie.

We challenge the Media to show proof of any significant difference between the Moi and Kibaki government's economic policies. If they can interrupt their resolve to support the PNU and Kibaki, the media should come out and tell us where Moi and Kibaki differ, whether in style or on the substantive issues. 

They should tell us what has changed, as it is quite clear Kenyans are yearning for change.