KENYA BEYOND 2005

Having lived in the land of George Bush for a few years now, one of the things I have noted about the man is his indefatigable drive to sell his policies and ideas. In the run up to the Iraq invasion the man moved and rallied his entire administration to the cause, however misguided. They read from the same script and danced to the same tune. There was no question that they were united in the run up to the war. In the failed social security reforms that the president fronted, he was out in the field day and night selling his ideas to whoever would listen. The program was not rejected for lack of salesmanship but for its inherent weaknesses. But this did not stop the president fronting it with vigor and gusto.

The Kenyan president on the other hand works from a completely different script. He assumes that all Kenyans are literate enough and economically endowed enough to be able to buy and read the newspapers or own radios and televisions to be able to follow the operations of their government. Kibaki’s style of leadership assumes he has the best people in the right jobs. It ignores that his cabinet appointments are mostly based on political merit rather than professional competence. When you appoint people on the basis of political merit, you have to provide political leadership to them. Leaving them to provide professional leadership leads to embarrassment and inadequacies in good governance.

The finger pointing and loud silence of the 88 plus cabinet is indicative of lack of political leadership. There are a few voices in the wild, Koigi, Nyaga, Kombo but these are forlorn echoes in the cavernous labyrinth that is corruption in Kenya. The voice that should be reverberating and thundering is missing. Every herdsman knows that there is always a thieving goat in every herd, and a good shepherd will keep a constant eye on it. He will constantly shout at it to turn back, and the goat will know it is marked. A herdsman cannot afford to slumber when the thieving goat is loose. Kibaki’s pen is full of thieving goats, they are not tethered and the herdsman is falling asleep.

Our land is calling for political direction. The country is bleeding from the wounds inflicted by corruption. Some of the thieving goats are tethered but still bleating, while others are silently munching, and chewing the cud, awaiting the gates to open they go browsing in the neighbors maize garden. The chief shepherd needs to reassure the neighbors that their plants are safe from his marauding herd.

The press has been doing a commendable job in most peoples eyes, (except Mwakwere and co). It has pointed out the evils that have permeated the society. It has brought the people’s conscience and awareness to a level that shames the lethargic elite that has left governance and leadership to the garrulous and incompetent. The press has broken down the façade and aura of invincibility that our leaders coat themselves with. Those incubating the eggs of corruption have now known that their hatcheries will be invaded and the chicks destroyed before they reach the brooders. What we need is for the big rooster to crow and all the others will fall in line.

Kibaki is not seizing the moment to articulate his policies and give this country direction. The president had to be dragged almost reluctantly from his Christmas recess to visit the dying of North Eastern province. This is no longer an issue in the public limelight. Even when Kenyans have to go and buy water in of all places Ethiopia, and be humiliated in the process, not even a local leader sees this as a problem. The president has not bothered to comment on the Anglo Leasing saga, maybe it is too ethereal for him. The Goldenberg report had to be squeezed into his busy schedule, we need to hear his comments on the same. The nation cannot afford to wait until the next Madaraka day or Jamhuri day for the president to address the issues that are bothering his people. Murungaru laid the blame of the navy ship tender on the president’s door step. Let us hear the president say something about it. Silence will be more fodder to rumors and innuendo. You cannot wish away an itch, you have to stretch your hand and scratch it, the people are itching for truth and justice.

All those adversely mentioned in the various corrupt deals, be they Anglo Leasing or Goldenberg, should step aside for justice and fairness to take course. Political expediency should not be allowed to overshadow morality and competence. Integrity and temperance in public service must be restored. The political class should not be allowed to instill benign loyalties to a cabal that is as transient as the regime which founds it. The civil service is a solid entity whose operations and policies continue to affect the people long after the regime is gone. It should not be operational at the exigencies of a political class but should serve all the people and protect their resources and heritage. It is therefore necessary to wipe out any contaminants at every level before it starts affecting the whole cargo.

My bible tells me ‘where there is no vision, people perish’ a nation’s vision can best be articulated by its president. People are by nature forgetful creatures, they therefore need to be reminded of their vision constantly otherwise they will curve out their own. The nation must pull together and the call must come from somewhere. Kenyatta talked Harambee, shouted Harambee, instilled Harambee. Moi talked Nyayo, shouted Nyayo, instilled Nyayo. Mr president, where do you want Kenyans to rally?