Musician and former presidential
aspirant Reuben Kigame has said the country is ready to be led by a blind
president, arguing that physical sight has not translated into effective
leadership over the years.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen
TV on Wednesday night, Kigame said the five presidents, all of whom had
full sight, have not been able to adequately solve the country’s major
challenges, suggesting that vision, not sight, is what the country needs.
“If sight could fix the problems of
Kenya, we’ve had five seeing presidents, and we still have problems. In fact, haya
macho yanaweza kuwa ndio shida, you people see too much. Whatever you see
you want, whether it is shamba, somebody’s wife or money,” Kigame said.
He continued by referencing
Shakespeare's Play King Lear, saying:
“Maybe it is time to have vision and
not mere sight. I hope that I can be able to prove to the world what
Shakespeare wrote in King Lear, that a man may see how this world goes without
eyes.”
“I think Kenya is ripe for a blind
president, and it may happen only once anyway, and then you can go back to your
seeing presidents.”
Kigame added that if elected, he
would not hesitate to step down if he fails to deliver.
“Si ni five years? In fact, if I
fail after the first year, I’m one of those presidents who will tell you to
tell me, ‘Kigame must go.’ I will go. If I fail and you can prove to me that I
failed, I would be very happy to resign,” he stated.
The 2022 independent presidential
candidate also confirmed his intentions to contest in the 2027 General
Election, but this time under a political party.
“Last election, I ran as an
independent candidate. This time around, I will not try that thing again. I
will announce the political party that I will run on pretty soon,” he said,
adding that his campaign will be “serious” and people-centred.
He outlined his campaign philosophy,
built around the pillars of “Utu, Haki na Maadili” (Humanity, Justice and
Ethics), and revealed what his core agenda will focus on.
This is bomoa ufisadi
(dismantle corruption), tekeleza Katiba (implement the Constitution) and
jenga Mkenya (empower individual Kenyans).
Kigame noted that his dream for a
better Kenya began with him writing social justice songs, which he plans on
singing his way to the State House.
He quoted Juliani’s song saying, “ I
am still vying and I am still singing. I want to be your next singing
president. I am singing my way into State House by reminding people: Niko
tayari kulipa gharama, sitasimama maovu yakitawala…”
Kigame also weighed in on the
construction of a church within the State House compound, a move that
has drawn public scrutiny over its cost and purpose.
“I would not allow the construction
of a church at the State House. In principle, it is wrong,” he said.
“Economically it is wrong, in terms
of policy it is wrong, in terms of Christianity itself it is wrong, because the
president is not the bishop of a country and State House is not the religious
centre of a country,” Kigame argued.
He criticised the cost of Sh1.2 billion, whether from taxpayer funds or private donations, saying such resources should be directed toward meeting the real, urgent needs of Kenyans.
