Nairobi; Kenya: One of the lessons derived from the Scottish referendum is that no threats or coercion were used to dissuade the Scots from breaking away to form their own independent country. The 'No' proponents used logic, persuasion and statistical evidence to show that the status quo was more beneficial to Scotland.
The 'Yes' proponents used all legal means at their disposal, including allowing youth as young as 16 years to vote to gain advantage. Even before the tallying was over, the 'Yes' team gallantly acknowledged defeat. This is what defines democracy and the right of the citizens to make an informed choice.
Contrasted with the situation back home, the mere mention of the word 'referendum' brings out the worst in leaders who are conditioned to believe their core mandate is to defend the Government, irrespective of consequences.
Grandstanding informed by subjectivity has helped to blow matters that required simple logic out of proportion, creating camps and enmity at a time when we should be building bridges and working on our nationhood. Elected leaders lack the most basic of attributes of good leadership which include humility, tolerance, tact and decorum.
On Saturday, the governors who have tried in vain to engage the Government in meaningful discussions on monetary allocations to counties launched their hunt for signatures to facilitate a referendum, in Bomet County. The law requires that they collect one million signatures to allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission organise for a referendum.
Legislators opposed to the Pesa Mashinani push have often pointed out that Parliament has mechanisms through which the governors' grievances could be addressed, yet they have not endeavoured to put them into motion, choosing invective instead. The truth, however, is that for Parliament to increase allocations to counties, the constitution would have to be amended, thus still necessitating a referendum.
Even after meeting the President, lack of trust and political goodwill has seen the two sides fail to reach an amicable solution. All is not lost though, since fresh dialogue can be called to resolve contentious issues and allow the country to move forward.
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