Actions that may erode public trust in the State

Sedef Turper and Kees Aarts of the University of Twente in the Netherlands define political trust as “citizens’ confidence in political institutions”. They further say that it is an important indicator of political legitimacy. Simply defined, political legitimacy is the belief in the righteousness of political institutions and the administration of which they are part.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s (pictured)  second term started after a repeat presidential election boycotted by his archrival. The boycott presented the president with a legitimacy problem. This was resolved only after his perennial rival Raila Odinga acquiesced to a cessation of hostilities through the famous “handshake.” But citizen confidence is tenuous and undermined when political institutions routinely offend the sensibilities of all and sundry.

An examination of the Police Service offers a window into the workings of the Jubilee administration. A running joke has it that the police have their own unique interpretation of every government policy. Curfews to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus are enforced by teargas and beatings, minutes away from the deadline. Married couples are arrested for failing to observe social distancing on an early morning jog, never mind that they have all the protective accoutrements required, including face masks. People who refuse to offer a bribe are threatened with quarantine.

But it is hardly surprising that there should be a trust deficit in these doubtful times. Crises have a way of bringing out the negative sides of people, institutions and entire countries.  Where there previously was unity and inclusion, protectionism and nationalistic interests rise to the fore. Italians, among the worst afflicted by coronavirus, are still smarting over the fact that countries within the European Union, of which they are part, closed their borders to them. President Donald Trump of America has suspended family-based immigration because of the pandemic. This has been regarded as part of a strategy to reduce the flow of foreigners into the US. The subliminal message here is twofold: That protectionist policies start where there is an erosion of trust and that strangers/foreigners cannot be trusted.

Although Kenya has acquitted herself well with regard to the fight against the novel coronavirus, there are still gaps that undermine citizen confidence and by extension, political trust. One example is the selective censure of some politicians while leaving out others. Recently, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen was threatened with sanction after he addressed his constituents in violation of government regulations on social distancing. This was shortly after Raila, in defiance of county lockdown rules, crossed over to Kajiado County to condole with a bereaved senior trade unionist. Raila has not been censured, giving rise to speculation that rules in Kenya are applied in an Orwellian fashion where some are “more equal” than others.

Another example is the prioritising of use of government resources. As recent floods ravaged Murkomen’s county, he pleaded with the government to send helicopters to rescue citizens in danger of drowning. His pleas fell on deaf ears. Instead, the government found the resources to dispatch helicopters over KNH, flying banners to cheer frontline workers in the pandemic fight.

But it is the controversy surrounding a Kenya Medical Research Institute scientist that tops it all. Centre for Virus Research director  Joel Lutomia has been relieved of his duties. The reason advanced is that he delayed the release of Covid-19 laboratory results.

There are those who argue that differences in personal style should not detract from the substance of the fight against the pandemic. They cite the relationship between President Trump and Anthony Fauci, who serves on the White House coronavirus task force. Dr Fauci has been spearheading parts of the task force briefings, providing updates to reporters and sometimes, contradicting Trump's suggestions. The president has not fired him. If anything, he has ordered that Fauci be given a security detail after multiple threats because of his stand.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has been lauded for his forthright and decisive leadership style. However, his instruction to “reassign” Lutomia, to many, smacks of the Executive overreach of the old order. In a government that is struggling to turn off the faucet of political distrust, care should be taken to ensure that public policy is not executed capriciously!

Mr Khafafa is a public policy analyst