Letters

Leaders must now know humility pays

The tribunal appointed by the President to investigate the conduct of suspended Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza has finally given its verdict.

It recommends that Baraza be stripped of her position as DCJ and deputy President of the Supreme Court because her actions — at Village Market on New Year’s eve — were against the judicial code of conduct and ethics that requires holders of her position to conduct themselves in a manner above reproach even in private.

The tribunal described the manner in which Baraza handled security guard Rebecca Kerubo at the mall as amounting to gross misconduct and misbehaviour. Baraza had been accused of pinching Kerubo’s nose and threatening her with a gun.

What does this verdict mean to leaders holding public offices in the Government? As fit as one might be to hold that position, how they carry themselves outside matters a lot. It should also be a warning to leaders who abuse their positions to threaten subjects thinking they will get away with it. It also sends warning to leaders that we are living in a new Constitutional era where all are equal.

The Constitution provides for equal treatment for everyone regardless of one’s social, political or economic standing. Impunity, just like corruption and bad leadership, has no place in our society.

Baraza case and outcome must be celebrated as part of fruits of the new law. The tribunal might have opened a window of hope for Kenyans that leaders who practice impunity have nowhere to run to. I consider this a major win in fight on impunity. Yes, there is hope we can win over it.

{Nixon Kanali, Nairobi}

Baraza must be ruing the day she allowed her DCJ position, which she had not even enjoyed for a year, to cloud her good judgement. Instead of allowing humility to guide her, she subscribed to the ‘do you know who I am?’ attitude of some of our public servants.

The faster public servants internalise the fact that the Constitution won’t allow misconduct, the better. It’s time they put public service first, act and behave in ways that do not bring into disrepute their offices.

{Otieno Sungu, Via Email}

In the spirit of the new dispensation, President Kibaki must honour the recommendations of the tribunal that investigated the conduct of DCJ Baraza.

Baraza failed to convince the tribunal, led by retired Tanzanian CJ Augustino Ramadhani, that she was innocent after giving misleading and contradicting statements during cross-examination. On her part, Kerubo was eloquent and  consistence in presenting evidence to the tribunal. 

Kenyans had a lot of faith in her for her vast experience in advocacy for the voiceless in the society, but all this is gone. Baraza should have just let a humble Kerubo do her job given the prevailing state of insecurity following the wave of terror attacks by Somali Al Shabaab militia.

{Erick Banda, Via Email}

I have a strong feeling Baraza was not, right from the time she woke up, intending to accost anyone that fateful December morning. She couldn’t have envisaged herself pinching anyone’s nose. She wasn’t even intending to tell one single lie that day.

I can bet my supper that even after telling the first lie after the fact, she did not intend to complicate matters, but there is this thing with lies. Once you spin a small lie and it fails to work, you must concoct a more potent potion of a lie — strong enough to be more acceptable, and to prove the first tall tale wasn’t a lie after all.

That’s why by the time one is being hung to dry in the labyrinth of lies, the last one is just incredulous, and even the spinner is sometimes astounded by own audacity!

{Gachiengo Gitau, Via Email}

At last, it was justice served for Kerubo. The tribunal’s verdict was a stern warning to persons whom may be blinded by power that they have no leeway to perpetuate injustice and impunity. It is also a strong indication that the Constitution is neutral and no respecter of impunity.

{Sigei Mark, Nairobi}

Now let MPs give us refreshing leadership

Kenya deserves a futuristic national assembly chambers that will reflect our soon-to-be acquired status of a middle-income economy.

But, lest we forget, on average, on any given day when Parliament is in session, no more than 40 MPs sit in that House. So, most of the days in the five years’ term of Parliament, there is idle capacity.

Will the cosy ambiance now make MPs take their work more seriously? And there is that embarrassing matter of ‘clueless’ MPs whose only value is to facilitate the achievement of the needed quorum. They don’t deserve that cosy space where a chair is valued at Sh250,000.

That is another reason why voters should not commit the sin of allowing the more than 90 per cent of the sitting ‘clueless’ MPs back to the House to enjoy undeserved comfort. Let’s vote consciously.

{Anderson Omoto, Kakamega}

Our MPs are known for dozing during Parliament sessions, and with the new state-of-the art chambers with more comfortable seats, we are likely to see more of this. Kenyans should now brace for bad laws and raw deal representation in Parliament. House Speaker should organise for workshops to train MPs on how to use the new chamber.

{Phelix Gudah, Mt Kenya University}

I fear some hard learner MPs and those shy to speak in the House may never learn to use the new technology that comes with the new-look chambers.

{Justin Osey Peter, Mombasa}

The new ultramodern chamber is long overdue. For a country that prides itself as the leader in East and Central Africa, our legislative chambers must set the pace for the region. Our MPs can now operate in a conducive environment to enable them deliver on their mandate.

However, a critical evaluation of the parliament’s performance paints a the negative picture about its work. The quality of debates and their pieces of legislation is wanting. Events like cash for questions, lack of quorum and blackmail by MPs make the Legislature a scar on the nation’s conscience.

Kenyans may feel cheated if MPs don’t change this image and attitude towards national duty.

{B Amaya, Nairobi}

BVR or black book, IEBC integrity key

One of the reasons Justice Johann Kriegler’s team on post-election violence unfolded in its comprehensive analysis happened in 2007 was the vulnerability of the voter register.

The black book, the commission found, was open to manipulation by individuals with vested interests to alter the end tally of the election.

It was then that Kenyans advocated for electronic voter register and voting process to guard against manipulations. IEBC has since tried to procure Biometric Voter Registry kit to no avail but that shouldn’t be a cause of alarm.

What matters most is the integrity of IEBC. The 2002 elections were transparent yet we had a manual system and no manipulation. The 2007 exercise was chaotic because then electoral body allowed itself, the registry and tally to be manipulated.

After all, without integrity, even the e-registry can be manipulated.

{Robert Amalemba, Kakamega}

How serious is State on extra tuition ban?

Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo’s reiteration that holiday tuition stands banned may not be taken serious if it is communicated in political rallies. Government directives must be communicated through official circulars.

Mutula should also understand some schools have holiday tuition fees incorporated in fees structures and whether conducted or not payments are ‘compulsory’.  Thus parents stand to lose if they disallow teachers to hold extra tuition.

Mutula has more assignment to ensure ban is adhered to.

{Kevine Omollo, Kisumu}

Something is wrong with Team Kenya

Dismal performance of Team Kenya at the London Olympics is a matter of national concern. Kenya is reputed as a sporting giant. How Africa’s athletics powerhouse can limp at the Olympics is beyond comprehension. Something must be terribly wrong and our National Olympic Committee officials should come clean on the worrying development.

Many theories and excuses are being advanced for the poor show. Some are of the view we have not embraced modern ways of training while others claim the sports facilities are archaic. However, that isn’t convincing. How do we explain the success of Ethiopians at the event? What of Algerians?

It is a fact Kenya is superior to all her African counterparts in long distance races. So what explanation can suffice the terrible performance at London? Wrangles or sabotage?

{B Amaya, Nairobi}