Kenya urgently needs focused stewardship, Mr President

NAIROBI: Kenyans are a patient lot. At the height of the recent terrorist attacks, they displayed awesome unity. In the 2008 post-election violence, they rallied as a nation to save their country from the brink of ethnocentric annihilation. In the early 1990s, they tightened their belts to outlive the devastating droughts and economic meltdown. In 2002, they joined hands across the ethnic and political divide to dispatch the dysfunctional KANU home because of corruption and mismanagement.

Today, Kenyans face daunting economic challenges that threaten to drive them deeper into poverty and servitude. The depreciating value of the shilling, coupled with skyrocketing interest rates and proposed higher taxes bodes ill for the region’s largest economy. The government is in a hole in massive debt, and is still digging. What Treasury refers to as turbulence in the economy is a polite expression of an unprecedented economic malaise that is on an intensive IMF drip.

I belong to the Jubilee ruling party and was very proud of it when it came to power. With a young, polished and experienced leader, we believed that it would steer this great country into an iconic super-nation in Africa that will be the envy of many. Its penchant for the youth entrepreneurship and things digital fanned the expectations for a transformational leadership that will lift our youth out of idleness, crime and drugs reigned high. The President’s hitherto remarkable stewardship of the economy during his tenure at the Treasury also lent hopes to expectation for wealth creation and economic empowerment of the masses.

Mid-term into his leadership, our captain is missing from action. When he makes an appearance, he opines that all is well and only his detractors are making noise. Even those of us in the coalition who, for lack of a better avenue give our wise counsel in public, are deemed noisemakers. Things are going awfully wrong and in the wrong direction. Government operations appear paralysed for lack of funds. Several ministries have had no Cabinet Secretaries for nearly a year. Ethnocentric leaders are spewing hatred to incite communities against each other, as those in positions of trust pursue true north. Erosion of integrity and accountability in public service is rapidly infusing a lack of confidence and trust in government.

The President should reboot his current Cabinet and appoint afresh to get some new faces on board and put a stamp of authority on his leadership. Get the system to promptly, decisively and impartially deal with ethnic bigotry. He should not be pre-occupied with pursuing schemes to retain his seat in 2017; Kenyans will overwhelmingly re-elect him if he gets into the steering wheel, and cease being a conductor in the bus.

He should fund the oversight institutions such as the Director of Public Prosecutions, Auditor General and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to assist him detect and fight runaway graft. The President should get his administration to desist from dismembering the civil society and the media, and let independent public institutions perform their duties. State House must all stop writing its own laws by vetoing nearly every law passed by Parliament.

Above all, he should stop this uncontrolled slide into massive debt. For God’s sake, we better develop at own pace rather than drive on super highways in shackles!

But kudos to the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta! She led a high-powered delegation of government officials, diplomats and UN agencies to my county this week to launch Beyond Zero campaign. Her visit is a reflection of her awesome humility, and passion to serve humanity. The President should take cue and visit Mandera to listen to ordinary folks to get a feel of the nation’s pulse in a serene environment.