NEWSWEEK’s Tom Masland met with Kenyatta during a recent campaign swing in central Kenya, heartland of the dominant Kikuyu tribe. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: Have you convinced voters that you are your own man?
Uhuru Kenyatta: Absolutely. Our constitution is very clear on who holds the reins of power–the man who is elected by the 10.5 million voters.
Many voters would like the next president to pursue those who have defrauded the state. If elected, are you prepared to pursue past economic crimes?
The new government will have zero tolerance toward corruption. We need to put into place popular institutions to ensure that such things never reoccur. But we need to focus on the future. The cases in court will be prosecuted as normal. But I don’t believe in looking into the past.
There has been some talk by both campaigns about the possibility of forming a national unity coalition after the election. Is this something you favor?
A government of national unity is a government that is inclusive of all the different communities that we have in this country and that takes into account different interest groups in this country. That is what I call a government of national unity. The opposition means a loose coalition of parties that are basically ethnic based. I believe that breeds more divisions than it brings unity.
So you won’t bring back people who left government to join the opposition?
At this stage in the campaign one goes for a clear majority.
Given your inexperience in politics, were you surprised to get the nomination?
No. What I didn’t expect was the kind of fallout that occurred, but I think we have lived through it. We have weathered the storm.
Why do you think President Daniel arap Moi nominated you as his successor?
The mood in the community was definitely for change, and I think he felt that KANU could also change from within and present a new face. I’m grateful for all the [KANU] defections [to the opposition NARC], because we now form a true alternative. It’s our friends on the other side who are a continuation of what has been.
You seem to be running against the record of KANU, even though you’re the party’s nominee.
Exactly. We have over 70 percent new faces among our nominees, and that is making me very excited.
Do you propose to offer amnesty to those who may have committed economic crimes?
I am not talking about amnesty. I am saying any cases before the courts will be prosecuted. And prosecutions will proceed as per the laws of the land. But my focus will be where my country will be in the next 10 years.
You have avoided making specific promises. Why?
I am a pragmatist first and foremost. Secondly, I do not believe in making promises you cannot keep. What Kenya needs is a very different approach to politics. When we say, “We are going to give free education, free medical health care, we are going to revamp the roads in five years,” that is a lie. Where are the resources going to come from? [The insurgents] claim that these resources have been looted. That is hearsay. What we need in this country is to make education affordable. We need to get people earning so they can meet their costs.
How do you respond to polls that put you behind?
That does not bother me in the slightest. My prediction is that Uhuru will win. With each passing day, we are picking up. We are telling people the truth and people are coming around to understand that what we need is a realistic approach. And people are starting to see that. We have very fresh, young, new candidates.
Would you hold over powerful cabinet members from the current government?
Don’t ask me about today’s cabinet–that’s not my business. I will form my government based on our constitution. My hope and prayer is that the Kenyan people will give us a great crop of leaders in the next parliament.
