Kibaki has always ruled through absence. In a sense, he got power through his absence. In 2002, he was chosen as the compromise candidate because he seemed to lack the presence of the other candidates — appeared to lack the charisma, the fierce ambition, and perhaps most importantly, the implacable enemies that the other candidates had. He was literally absent for that 2002 campaign, just having barely survived a road accident, and it was left to Raila Odinga to campaign for him.
Through his first term, Kibaki was notable for his absence: through the looting of Kenya’s treasury, through the shadowy terror of the Armenian thugs, and through the dashing of Constitutional Reform hopes.
But of course, where there is absence, there is also presence. After all, somebody must have been behind the corruption, and siccing of international thugs on the media, and shortcircuiting of Constitutional reforms. Rule through absence allowed Kibaki to survive through his first term. Even at his worst, his opponents held out the hope that he was the well-intentioned Czar sorrounded by venal Cossacks.
The 2007 elections should have put these illusions to rest. Kibaki made his presence felt in two major ways: on the campaign trail to hand out districts, and in stealing the election.
Now, once again in power, he has retreated to absence as the country burns.
