Ernest Mungai (left) and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta at South Coast Mombasa.

Ernest, the foundations developer of Kenya University project in Kenya (www.kenyauniversity.org), recently met Uhuru Kenyatta who is the current Deputy Prime minister and Minister of Finance In the Republic of Kenya as they celebrated the New Year, 2012, in South Coast Mombasa. South Coast is the region that the founders and pioneers of the Kenya University Project have been trying to establish the university.

Since some of the biggest deals and ideas originate or are struck during informal events, it is conceivable that the meeting may eventually culminate in advancing the cause pursued by the Kenya University project. In an interview with Ernest we got his views on Uhuru Kenyatta the politician today as compared to 2002, the upcoming 2012 elections, the leadership Uhuru Kenyatta would offer 2012-2017 and the 500,000 acres recorded last year on Forbes magazine owned by Uhuru that makes him the richest Kenyan and number 26 in Africa with a wealth value of $500 million. Uhuru has a charge filed by the International Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court and is also preparing to be one of the candidates for the seat of President of Kenya 2012.   

Interview with Ernest

Where did you meet?
We met at the New Year’s celebration at the Leisure Lodge Beach Resort in the South Coast, Diani Mombasa Kenya. He was present with his family, I had my family and there were other guests including the Deputy Prime Minister Mr Musalia Mudavadi who was also accompanied by his family in the holiday weekend leading to New Year celebration. 

How did you welcome the New Year? In the U.S many parties all over celebrated with the millions at Time Square New York as the ball was brought down. How was it? Did Uhuru make a political statement? 
I remember the excitement of welcoming a New Year in U.S from my visit and joining Kenyans abroad to welcome year 2009. This year we all welcomed the New Year with hope and enthusiasm. The coincidence was that both Deputy Prime Ministers of our great country Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi were present with their Families and Friends. They however both chose not to make any political statements.

Uhuru has said he will compete for president 2012. As a businessman which Uhuru policies would you say will set him apart from the other contenders? What would he achieve for the country if he were elected?
He is committed to seeing a united country in economic growth and free of corruption. He wants to make Kenya a country where the youth can be given all the opportunity develop their full potential and realize their dreams of becoming small and medium size business entrepreneurs.  I believe he would lead the country to where the majority of the citizens are in the middle income or class by leading the country to more growth of businesses and opportunities.

Forbes magazine recorded the land owned by Uhuru as 500,000 acres and making the bulk of his inherited wealth. I should believe most of the land is under economic use. If some is not, is he open to considering offers for development?  I believe in line of creating more economic opportunity for Kenyans this land is being put to use. If any is idle with the policy of public private partnerships (PPPs) or even based purely on a private sector initiative like advanced by the Kenya University Project founders Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta as Minister of Finance and by extension the Kenya Investments Authority, would be open to any ideas that would spur growth in the realization of a better and prosperous Kenya for all Kenyans.

10 years ago 2002 Uhuru Campaigned for president and many who did not vote for him then cited inexperience. How would you rate him today compared to then?  
Today Uhuru Kenyatta and his Political Party stands out as one of the most focused and democratic politicians who are ready to take this country to the next level.

Having spoken in conferences like U.S -Africa business partnerships, how would you envision a Presidency of Uhuru as relates to attracting new business and growth in the country?
Attending and speaking in the WPI US – Africa business Conference opened me to seeing the vast opportunities that technology inventors can partner with the business community in Kenya with the right government. Unfortunately Kenya needed to transform and it is doing so every day. The last piece of the parcel will be electing leaders who have zero tolerance on corruption. I see in Uhuru Kenyatta a leader free of Corruption. He is a leader who is ready to listen to all Kenyans of goodwill with an Interest of seeing this country spur economic growth. I see a leader who is capable of furthering the economic strides made by President Mwai Kibaki. I also see a very democratic leader who is open to constructive criticism that is needed in making our country better for all. I have no doubt under a Uhuru Presidency many inventors, especially of Green Technologies, will find Kenya as the most attractive place to set their business.

The constitution currently has allocated a total of 432 seats to be competed for, broken down in terms of 1 seat of President, 47 Governors, 47 senators, 337 Members of Parliament National Assembly. Kenyans abroad are looking forward to entering this competition. Just for President I have counted about 15 Kenyans in Kenya, 4 Kenyans from U.S, 2 from U.K. This means there could be about 10,000 Kenyans competing for these 432 seats and County Assembly seats. What is your opinion on this?
This is an exciting time in Kenya and democracy is growing fast. Except for a few incidences of those afraid of competition or haven’t realized the change that is happening in Kenya, I would say the majority of Kenyans today welcome competition.  New ideas are cropping up and if it takes 10,000 candidates to find the 432 to be employed by Kenyans for these jobs, why not. I have read the initiative by Dr. Endege and the Diaspora Kenyans platform to gradually grow the economy by Kshs 1 trillion every year thus Kshs 5 trillion growth by 2017, 1 million house output and 5 million new jobs. This is something as a businessman I am interested in hearing more and will be following. If Kenyans from abroad can tailor legislative laws and policies that can develop the economy as happened in Singapore, especially in the housing sector, as a businessman and father whose kids will be joining the work force in the near future I welcome the ideas and Diaspora Kenyans becoming candidates. 

Would you consider running 2012? And if you decide would you run under the Diaspora platform? 
The idea has been pushed onto me. From 2007, after attending the first U.S-Africa business conference, my mind opened up to thinking of new ways to create opportunity and work with Kenyans abroad as  I prepared to attend two U.S-Africa business conferences 2008 and 2009. I spoke in 2008 in the Housing and Infrastructure panel and in 2009 was Main Guest speaker on Building a New University City in Kenya. I’ve been thinking how government initiatives could unlock this opportunities. Considering my children and many more now in high school, I know we need more university opportunities. The plan that was in place would be taking in about 2000 students today. Based on 2008, if the initiatives in housing had moved forward, 10,000 families could be living in better homes and thousands of Kenyans abroad owning homes as was the vision of Diaspora Homes (K) Limited. Finding viable solutions through legislation that enable tapping resources to grow the economy would lure me to run. However I’m a businessman and I love the business sector. On running under Diaspora, I would say when I started Diaspora Homes and visited the U.S and U.K many times I joined the Diaspora. But again for now I would like to play my part in the business sector.