Leading the World

Kenya may not be a leading world economy or a model of transparent and effective government, but as of this week you’ll be happy to know that its President, Mwai Kibaki, is now the highest paid leader of any democracy in the world. At 38.4 million Kenyan shillings per year, or roughly $550,000, His Excellency now makes more than President Bush or Tony Blair. That’s a whopping 1,000 times the annual income of the average Kenyan. Here’s what some of those average folks think:

Mr. Samuel Klama, a security guard in Nyeri, said, “People are being tormented by floods all over the country, making life very difficult. The money should be used to alleviate the suffering experienced by the majority of Kenyans.”

Christopher Suter, a farmer from Uasin Gishu, asked, “Why don’t they lead by example?”

Ms. Selina Mbai exclaimed, “What is the point of awarding the President and members of parliament huge salaries while the common man continues to languish in abject poverty? They claim that the economy has improved; poor Kenyans have nothing to show for it.”

Ms. Shakila Rashid, a copy typist, explained, “The Government came up with free primary education but our children are at home because the lecturers, who do a good job, can’t have their salaries increased. The economic growth they are talking about is just on paper.”

Ms. Beth Maina, a teacher in Nakuru, said “It is not justified. Most of the time they attend to their personal business instead of being in Parliament. Their output is not commensurate with what they earn. But the Presidential salary is OK because it helps him to avoid being corrupt.”

I guess it’s better that these guys pay themselves ridiculous salaries out in the open, as opposed to simply stealing the money (and we hear there’s a lot of that going around as well). But how in the world can the guy sleep at night with so much need and unfulfilled promise all around him? Coincidentally, today is “International Anti-Corruption Day.” That ought to save us.