MPs' plot to bar scrutiny crosses red line

The advent of the campaign period leading up to elections, any elections, may be a truer indicator of leaders’ characters than any other time.

We have seen seemingly sane candidates turn into mud-slinging, egotistical maniacs running amok, for a while forgetting that they have not yet been chosen as the peoples’ representatives. This is what happens when you let power get to your head, and it is not just reserved for the national political arena.

And then of course, there are those who, when under pressure, show their true nature by staying above the fray and responding to all the jibes that come their way with poise and enviable composure. I think this is what historians refer to when they speak of grace under fire.

The last lot, who are by the far the most enviable, are the wily strategists. Two years early, they can foretell they are headed for trouble and they have one of two choices. One, deflect attention away from their non-delivery of promises made or two, work twice as hard in the remaining time to ensure that they make good on the pledges they made, ensuring a shoo in when the time comes to lead by actions and not by words.

On a related tangent, if there is any such thing, I remember in 2007 after the post-election violence, a group of friends got together and had long conversations regarding the importance of information. Not that it has changed much, but our collective voting habits as a nation have long been characterised by last-minute promises that are almost never fulfilled, allegiances along tribal lines and selling off our future for a few shillings in the present.

In strategy, we acknowledge that there is no such thing as perfect information. But the beauty of imperfect information is that it allows us to go further than written words and engage our powers of intelligence deduction, also known as critical thinking skills, to come up with a course of action. And because we know that information can be a lethal, deadly weapon especially when in the hands of the voters, my friends, decided that they would try their utmost best to disseminate that information.

Specifically, access to the kind information that guides Wanjiku when it comes to choosing leaders. Now, whether or not voters choose to make informed choices when going to the polls is an entirely different thing. But that does not discount the fact that they have a right to this information, a fact that is enshrined in our Constitution.

Back to the present. The wily strategists referred to above are at it again. They have come up with an almost foolproof method of ensuring that access to information is severely curtailed. Through the proposed Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Bill, there are specific clauses that have caused Kenyans significant discomfort. In particular, publishing the actions of lawmakers that the Speaker deems to be scandalous will be criminalised.

This effectively means that making public reports such as those around unlawful behaviour like corruption by Members of Parliament can be stopped. Further, prior permission has to be sought from the Speaker when broadcasting House and committee meetings proceedings. The relationship between legislators holding their positions by virtue of being of service to the people and passing laws that benefit the electorate is clearly lost on Kenyan Members of Parliament.

There are two very clear messages that this action should pass to Kenyans. One is that where laws are self-seeking and egotistical, there is never a shortage of time or ability to debate, fast-track and propose the same. This is particularly relevant at a time when there are crucial bills that have to be delayed because they did not meet the August 2015 deadline. The relevant question is what legislators have been focusing on instead of law-making, which is one of the core mandates of their appointment.

The second is that if the proposed Bill curtailing access to parliamentary information is passed, we will all be effectively groping in the dark in 2017, with no way of knowing what the very people we elected have been focusing on in as far as the various committees and process of setting laws is concerned. It is especially crucial that Kenyans continue to have access to the debates that go on in the August House.

Not only does it give us an idea of what our chosen representatives are spending time on and the causes they are pledging allegiance to, we are better placed to hold them accountable. However, the legislators know that without this access, they can continue to hide under falsehoods and fabrications, ensuring that we have no proof of how ineffectual and self-aggrandising their actions are and that any summations we make will be at best informed by conjecture.

If there ever was an instance where a law goes beyond merely serving a minority group of people to the detriment of the larger whole, then this is it.

I hope Kenyans are watching keenly and taking notes.