Baptised by fire

CONSIDERED one of the world's toppalaeontologists, conservationists andlately a politician, Richard Leakey hasalways been in the centre of controversies in Kenya.

It is his recent foray into politicsafter a stormy period as head of theKenya Wildlife Services (KWS), that hasshocked many and currently invited bitter criticism.

Leakey is a founder of the latest andthe most controversial OPPOSitiOD polit-ical party in Kenya - Salina. Recently,he attended the "State ofWorld Forum"in San Francisco with ex-heads of statelike George Bush of the us,Mikhail Gorbachev of theformer USSR, Britain'sMargaret Thatcher andBrian Mulroney of Canada.

The meeting, brandeda think-tank aiming tocreate an "Earth Charter"for AD 2000, pushes Leakeyfurther into global limelight, Born and raised in afamily of leading palacon -tologists and archaeologists, he was possessedexceptional skills and knowledge.

But a highly sensational and potentially libelous publication - Leakey,The Man - has been scrialised inthe Kenyan media where he was accusedof ensuring that no Black Kenyanremained close to his field of work.It is accused that there is little orno record of Leakey having supported and trained archaeologists andpalaeontologists.

Six years ago, when Kenya's wildlifefiiced near extinction plagued by heavilyarmed poachers and factional soldiersfrom the neighbouring states, RichardLeakey openly campaigned for wildlifeconservation services. It is he who openly clashed and disagreed with the thenminister for tourism and wildlife,George Muhoho. President Daniel ArapMoi chose Leakey to head the newlyformed autonomous KWS to tackle poaching.

With government support angoodwill, Leakeychanged the KWS into aformidable force, trained and aTM4like the country's elite Paramilitary armseral service unit. Ht so locked horrywith some African na,ions reluctant toban ivory trade and elephant culling.

However, at the KWS, Leakey's exitwas linked to his differences with a Powerful minister, William Ole Ntimamafrom the Maasailand which practicalbarbours most of Kenya's andTanzania's wildlife. Richard Leakey wasaccused of handling donor money camlessly.

Leakey was branded a Mzungu - a White who was a reminder of thehistory of white colonialdominance in Kenya.

As Leakey claims to bean atheist, his party'sname - Salina, which hasBiblical connotations, vdecried by both Musliiand Christians, Safinaseen as a faction evolvingout of rivalry within various opposition partiesand Leakey is portrayedthe evil white aggressor.

To add fuel to fire, Kenya's rabidlypolitical white community recently senta delegation to reassure President Mthat it would not help Leakey in hispolitical ventures.

But Leakey the fighter, has had thefortune of being baptised by fire. In a incident smacking of political debauchcry, Leakey was whipped in full view 4the local and international press wbes,he accompanied an opposition group Kenya's fourth largest town, Nakuru,tovisit an opposition politician, KoiWanowere.

This generated much sympathyLeakey, but the opposition leaders choseto ignore the issue. Leakey is also seena high-profile white with a well-fundedparty, which raises eyebrows in a country where millions live in abject povertyDespite the odds being against Leakey, Kenyans, now sceptical of feudingPositions politicians, seem willing to give him a fair chance.