Nepotism
Nation had a couple of articles on nepotism in the Kibaki. Moi and Kenyatta administrations. I found all three to be quite interesting:
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&newsid=47609
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=47607
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&newsid=47610
However, a contention made by one of the authors kind of buffeled me: "The US Congress legislated against this 45 years ago." It buffled me because, over the past few weeks their have been numerous stories about congressmen hiring their relatives:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-campaign14apr14,1,446449.story?coll=la-news-politics-national&ctrack=2&cset=true Note that the latimes article begins with a caveat: "The practice [nepotism] though legal, is under scrutiny"
Moreover, their are a number of instances where the Bush has done the samething that Kibaki has done (hire family of connected folke) for example, Micheal Powell son of Colin Powell; Elaine Chao (Labor secretary) Wife of senate Majority whip Mitch Mcconell. Elizabeth Cheney, the vice president's daughter, is a deputy assistant secretary of state. Her husband, Philip Perry, is chief counsel for the Office of Management and Budget and the list goes on. http://prorev.com/family.htm
Prior to arriving in the US. the words nepotism and croynism were synonimous with Moi's appointment of luckluster or downright incompetent people into government. However, in my time here and my following of cabinet and other government appointments, I have noticed that knowing the prezzo (croynies) does go a long way into advancing ones career in government. For example, former commerce secretary Don Evans is a good friend of the prezzo, and there are many examples (ambassadors especially). The main difference is that in America the appointments are competent and go through thorough screening by the US Senate and this weeds out incompetents.
As long as the folks appointed are competent, (and no one has claimed this: "There is no suggestion that all the people appointed are not fully qualified and excellent choices for the jobs they have been given.") I do not see this as a big problem.
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&newsid=47609
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=47607
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&newsid=47610
However, a contention made by one of the authors kind of buffeled me: "The US Congress legislated against this 45 years ago." It buffled me because, over the past few weeks their have been numerous stories about congressmen hiring their relatives:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-campaign14apr14,1,446449.story?coll=la-news-politics-national&ctrack=2&cset=true Note that the latimes article begins with a caveat: "The practice [nepotism] though legal, is under scrutiny"
Moreover, their are a number of instances where the Bush has done the samething that Kibaki has done (hire family of connected folke) for example, Micheal Powell son of Colin Powell; Elaine Chao (Labor secretary) Wife of senate Majority whip Mitch Mcconell. Elizabeth Cheney, the vice president's daughter, is a deputy assistant secretary of state. Her husband, Philip Perry, is chief counsel for the Office of Management and Budget and the list goes on. http://prorev.com/family.htm
Prior to arriving in the US. the words nepotism and croynism were synonimous with Moi's appointment of luckluster or downright incompetent people into government. However, in my time here and my following of cabinet and other government appointments, I have noticed that knowing the prezzo (croynies) does go a long way into advancing ones career in government. For example, former commerce secretary Don Evans is a good friend of the prezzo, and there are many examples (ambassadors especially). The main difference is that in America the appointments are competent and go through thorough screening by the US Senate and this weeds out incompetents.
As long as the folks appointed are competent, (and no one has claimed this: "There is no suggestion that all the people appointed are not fully qualified and excellent choices for the jobs they have been given.") I do not see this as a big problem.
posted by Githush at
7:31 PM
2 Comments:
Even if they are qualified, people will always wonder if the job was gotten on merit, and as a result they will genenrally not be taken seriously as there will always be question marks.
Not sure I'd make too much noise if being related to an appointee was grounds for never being considered in the first place!
Like to correct myself, there is indeed a law that prohibits nepotism, I believe it is the Anti Nepotism Act of 1965.
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