Political goodwill is necessary for the execution of BBI

One of the most accurate cartoonist’s impression of a poor Kenyan’s access to the national cake is a caricature of water gushing out of a high-pressure hosepipe into the wide mouth of a politician. Emaciated and suffocating under the weight of the leader’s body, a poor man struggles to catch the little drops that miss the politician’s mouth.

As debate on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rages, I could not help but think of how symbolic the cartoon is, especially in elucidating the baking and distribution of ‘the national cake’.

The question of the size of the cake vis-à-vis the distribution mechanisms and especially the integrity of the people mandated to ensure its fair distribution arises. Do Kenyans lack enough representation, or do they lack the right representation?

One of the contentious propositions of the BBI report is the issue of representation. While those in support of BBI argue that the proposed constitutional amendment will ensure a more united Kenya through enhanced transparency and fairness in the electoral system, those opposed to the initiative term the proposition an attempt at bloating political representation and, consequently, overburdening the taxpayer.

One of the most critical propositions of the initiative is the integrity of leaders. Whether or not Kenyans are adequately represented would not form the basis for heated debates if leaders stayed true to the virtues and principles envisaged in Chapter Six of the Constitution.

Nepotism

In fact, ethno-political affiliations would not matter if all leaders exercised discipline and commitment in service to the people.

If, as stipulated in Chapter Six, leaders’ decisions were “...not influenced by nepotism, favouritism or corrupt practices”, maybe Kenyans would expect equal socio-economic opportunities regardless of who holds public offices.

If leaders were honest in the execution of public duties and accountable to the public, maybe it would be much easier to tame runaway corruption, and public resources would go towards economic empowerment of all Kenyans. Maybe then, the proposed ward development fund would indeed develop the wards.

The biggest hindrance to Kenya’s economic development is lack of political goodwill that leads to corrupt practices in the distribution of the national cake. While the majority of Kenyans diligently pay taxes, their money often ends up in the hands of a few.

Corruption has become so entrenched that it is common for people to look for ‘connections’ in order to get service or secure job and business opportunities. There have been allegations of political leaders engaging in business with the government directly or through proxies in total contravention of Chapter Six on the conduct of State officers.

Equitable distribution 

When politicians use their power to take away business opportunities from deserving youth, then the issue is not of representation, but rather a question of integrity and honesty. Kenyans are highly skilled and, with a fair, equitable distribution of opportunities, would not need any ‘connections’ to thrive in both self and other employment.

The BBI report’s proposition to amend Article 80 of Chapter Six to require Parliament to enact legislation that establishes mechanisms for ‘the expeditious investigation, prosecution and trial of cases relating to corruption and integrity’ is perhaps one of the most important recommendations of the report. Lack of integrity is at the centre of all other ills that bedevil the country.

Besides leading to unfair acquisition of wealth by some leaders, it breeds distrust in the electoral processes, making every ethno-political group feel the need to have ‘one of their own’ in the electoral and other commissions, or ‘something fishy’ will go on.

Integrity, simply put, is doing the right thing when no one is watching. When leaders have Kenyans’ best interest at heart, it won’t matter who, or how many representatives the people have.

While it is important to ensure that all groups of people are fairly represented, it is dishonest to expect that improved representation will in itself solve any socio-economic and political problems.

Development will only be achieved when Kenyans commit to choosing leaders of integrity and holding them accountable, and when those found to be corrupt are expeditiously punished in accordance with the law.

 

Dr Kalangi is a communications lecturer and trainer, Kenyatta University