Uhuru will give us a lifeline by slaying graft dragon

The bold action taken by the President in dealing with the major issues that have plagued this country for a long time, has thrown us another lifeline. This is only comparable to that of 2003 when the optimism that greeted the NARC government was palpable.

One feels the same burst of hope after the President’s State of the Nation Address. Interestingly, this came for me against the backdrop of a week that had started as one of the darkest – stirred by the stack realisation that this nation could be on the brink of total collapse.
Throughout history, there are several vices that have brought down great men and mighty nations. If you study the downfall of many mighty empires, you can easily trace the woodworm that ate at the core of the system to have been one or all of these three: money, sex and power. Thus to wake up to the reality that the enslaving grip of this unholy trinity could be at the very core of our national being, drove me to tears.
Archbishop Eliud Wabukhala was perfectly on spot in terming our corruption levels a national disaster. The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

When a man or woman places money at the centre of their existence, there is no evil they cannot commit to attain more. Thus the love of money is threatening to sink this nation. And we would not be the first nation to be brought down by the worship of mammon.
In 1996, the love of money drove Albania into the trap of pyramid schemes – formed in collusion with top government leadership. Albanians sold their houses to invest in the schemes; farmers sold their livestock, and several banks played ball. Despite repeated warnings from the IMF and the World Bank, President Sali Berisha came to the defence of his people.

Press and public reaction was also mostly negative, accusing the IMF of trying to close down Albania’s most successful firms.

But soon the collapse began and by March 1997, Albania was in chaos. The government mostly lost control. Many in the army and police force deserted, and over one million weapons were looted from the armories.

Foreign nationals evacuated from the nation and mass emigration of Albanians began. The government was ultimately forced to resign. The insatiable love for money had brought down a nation.
Sensual passion is no better. Anthony Weiner was an astute US politician who won the hearts of many by his focused debates and by initiating programmes to address quality of life concerns. Entering politics in 1991 at age 27, he became the youngest councilman in New York City history.

He eventually entered Congress in 1998. But in 2011, Weiner was forced to resign from Congress after admitting to sending lewd images to multiple women. Sadly, his attempt to make a comeback as New York Mayor failed when in 2013, he admitted that his old habits had not died. Weiner had to consequently resign from politics – a brilliant career cut shot by unbridled passion.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn was a French professor of economics, a lawyer, and a successful politician. In 2007, Strauss-Kahn became the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Jerusalem Post listed him in 2010 as the 6th most influential Jewish person in the world. But in 2011 he had to resign from IMF following allegations that he had sexually assaulted a hotel employee.

Though the allegations were eventually not established, Strauss-Kahn was dogged by many other similar allegations. His was yet another career ruined by sexual scandals. On the other hand, the destructive nature of power does not need exposition.

As Lord Acton once expressed, power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is the battle over the same that set us on the brink of civil war in 2007. That is why the move by the President to slay the dragon of corruption, deal with past injustices, and chart a brand new course for the nation is most apt.

The naming of various individuals, from across the divide, suspected of involvement in bleeding national resources, is the boldest ever.

In apologising to Kenyans for past injustices and atrocities, the president has opened a new leaf in our relationships journal. It means that every individual and institution must henceforth bear the weight of their own crosses.

Our coffers must be protected, our morals restored, and our integrity upheld.

If the ultimatums and the directives in the President’s speech are implemented with the same passion as they were delivered – and I have no reason to doubt that they will – then Kenya is poised for yet another take off.

Our prayers are with all who are charged with the responsibility of turning those spoken words into concrete action. Our eyes are on you...with tearful hope.