Ababu may be right on cost cutting bid

Few have taken seriously the austerity measures proposed by Budalang’i Member of Parliament Ababu Namwamba. Through a Parliamentary Bill, the honourable member proposes drastic measures to tame the runaway national wage bill, and thus release enough money to pay government workers, including teachers who have paralysed the education system for more than a month.

This is a tall order indeed but, if I were in Parliament, I would vote for this Bill, albeit with several amendments. Key among them would be: do not reduce my perks — for obvious reasons. No dog will allow you to touch the bone already in its mouth...not even a church dog like myself. This is why I have great respect for Dr Njoroge, the Governor of Central Bank. While I believe I can resist the pull of the gravy train and shun any corrupt serve, God is yet to grant me Njoroge’s kind of grace — to turn down clean food already on the plate. I would therefore amend Ababu’s Bill so that it is passed now but to take effect after the next General Election. I would thus pass the Bill for the sake of the nation and then prepare myself for the lean years ahead. But logistics aside, it is clear that sooner or later we may have to walk down the Ababu Street. Way back from the constitution review days, pundits have variously argued that the structure of government would be unmanageable for our size of economy. For example, some wondered how come the US with a population of over 300 million has only 50 states, while Kenya with 40 million has 47 states (counties). Furthermore, whereas the USA Congress has 535 members (Reps and Senators), Kenya Parliament has 402 members (MPs and Senators).

Of course on the other side were and still are very strong proponents who argue that the Constitution may be expensive but that good things do not come cheap. I recall an article in a local daily back in 2010 that read in part, “In reality however, better is often more expensive, German cars cost more than Japanese ones for the simple reason that they are better. This comparison may sound banal, but it is because the point is really that simple. We are not likely to come up with a new Constitution that will cost less than the current one: Not if the new one will be better.” In my view this is a warped argument. Certainly no one wants a cheap constitution, but an inexpensive one.

The benefits that have accrued over the last few years from the current Constitution cannot be gainsaid. My own village market has arisen from a government-forsaken ruin to a vibrant little village city.

And with regularly graded access roads that lead almost to my mother’s doorsteps, I would be the last to fault the new structures. Devolution is most certainly a thumbs up to the new document.

Yet, when all is said and done, the reality still stares at us like a hungry lion. The persistent industrial unrest by workers in key sectors of government, and the insistent firm rebuttals by the leadership, are a testament to the fact that the load is more than we can carry. It is one thing to own a German machine, it is completely another to keep it in good service and repair.

This is where the Ababu Street becomes an attractive avenue for the more pragmatic minds. The myriad of constitutional offices and commissions need sober review to re-ascertain their necessity. The super salaries drawn by state officers must be interrogated and duly rationalised. The size of Parliament, both at national and county levels, must be reviewed. Why, for example, can’t the former provinces become the counties; perhaps increase them to ten or at most fifteen? The former divisions would then become the sub-counties. This would form viable units but still ensure that my local village road is graded, or better still, tarmacked.

It is my considered view that unless we face these matters squarely, the confrontation between government and its workers is going to turn into a super league. The teachers may be beaten this time round, but they will certainly go back to camp, perhaps with a better coach. In the meantime, the doctors, nurses, police, and others will keep trying their luck, until one of them eventually brings the cup home. For to be sure, it is hard to tame a desperate soul. Check out some four lepers in the Holy Book.