State commendations tool for patronage

This Jamhuri, the Presidency awarded 401 commendations to men and women. With few exceptions, the list again failed to powerfully connect emotionally with the public. Being honored by a Head of State is not a light matter. What are we missing in this national exercise?

Head of State commendations are guided by the National Honors Act. Any member of the public can nominate an individual by downloading and submitting a completed form from the Office of the Deputy President. Three advisory committees of national and county governments, Judiciary and the Parliament study nominations and make recommendations to the Office of the President. There are various categories but to earn one, you must demonstrate sacrifice, bravery and excellence that brings honour to the republic. Although the Act gives power to the Head of State to suspend and revoke a commendation, this has never happened in Kenyan history. It is also unclear whether public objections to the proposed list of nominees have ever resulted in the withdrawal of names.

Forgive me if I step over the criticisms of specific individuals from the last few years – the relatives, friends and business partners of the powerful, the corruption suspects, the meme and the digital team that created him – I think there is a bigger problem here. Rather than a public exercise that powerfully recalls the service of individuals serving higher than themselves, the exercise seems to be stuck between a graduation ceremony and a tool for patronage and influence.

On the list his year were some obvious leaders who have distinguished themselves. Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji, Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti and Administration Police constable Joash Ombati are three of my personal favorites.

However, lists of names without full citations have no power to inform our public imagination. Most of the recipients are digital ghosts. An online search of their names produces only their name on the commendation list itself. Without citations, it is impossible for us to learn and be inspired by their sacrifice and leadership.

More fundamentally though, how do we bring impact against poverty, corruption and leadership integrity into the center of this process? Should an award go to a State Officer whose county, ministry or agency remains at the top of the corruption chart of the Auditor General or parliamentary reports or is making minimal performance in terms service delivery to Kenyans?

Gross misconduct

Rather than provoking debate on his level of seriousness by wearing military attire, perhaps the President should announce that his next list will not include any leader whose county, ministry and agency has failed to correct their performance against reports of the Auditor General and National Assembly. Further, that he is suspending past commendations for officers before our courts and revoking those found guilty of gross misconduct.

There are no less than 8,044 cases of corruption and economic crimes currently being investigated or prosecuted. A cursory look at some of them will find men and women whose business cards still carry various categories of the Order of the Burning Spear and the Grand Warrior of Kenya. Stopping this would be one antidote for our cynicism.

Understood powerfully, honorary awards are less a statement of our accomplishments than an obligation to do greater things.

I had the pleasure to watch Advocate John Dudley Ochiel, 32, receive the Public Interest Jurist of 2018 Award. He was awarded for successfully litigating cases that upheld the rights of arrested persons, freedom of expression and freedom from forced evictions.

Those honored in the Head of State Commendations, Human Rights Defenders Awards and Public Interest Jurists Awards over the last week have two obligations. Firstly, they must not dishonor the recognition. Secondly, they must now use this recognition take on greater challenges that bring further honor to our nation.

-The writer is Amnesty International Executive Director.  [email protected]