Mutula faces the ‘Shibboleth’ of reforms battle

By Dan Okoth

Sometimes, a nation must say ‘Shibboleth’. No longer can it afford to wander in the valley of indecision, wondering whether to climb out or to wallow in the mire.

The Hebrew word Shibboleth means ‘an ear of grain’. While its initial use was in the context of war (a catchphrase to unmask fleeing Ephraim soldiers who could not pronounce the word right), in has come to mean separation of wheat from chaff.

For Kenya, the Shibboleth of our times is reforms. A look at the history of the nation shows how systematically, the people have yearned for better times. Consonant with the yearning, the leaders have consistently pulled the opposite direction. The people shout Shibboleth! but the leaders simply can’t.

Take for instance the issue of land. At independence, Kenyans heaved a sigh of collective national relief, hoping that the land they had so bitterly fought for, and for which heroes had died, would be gained.

As the nation hungers for reforms, political leaders go the opposite direction. While mwananchi shouted mabadiliko sasa! The leaders sang maendeleo. Troupes and groups jostled for space at State Houses to sing Nyayo Juu!

The leaders whose mistakes wananchi fought to correct, ironically, are some of the wealthiest beneficiaries of the country’s ills. Reforms then, largely aim at keeping leaders in check, the means by which wananchi may regain what was lost. Hence it is no wonder that the same leaders are the biggest boulders in the path to reform.

Land remains one of the sharpest sticking points in the nation’s conscience. Lives have been lost, tribal wars have been fought and wananchi have been displaced because of the land question. Land was at the centre of the post-election violence triggered by disputed 2007 presidential election results. It is in Agenda Four of the Annan deal.
So when new Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo took over as Justice minister, the nation asked itself what lay ahead. His docket is much larger than land reforms, with promises of constitutional review unfulfilled. His predecessor’s role in the Kibaki cabinet is a good pointer to the road ahead.
Yet Kenyan’s response to his appointment is hardly inspiring. Is it surprising that in a poll on this website, the majority thought the reforms train was getting derailed? Out of 4,196 votes, less than a quarter thought President Kibaki’s ministerial appointments of Mutula, Robinson Githae (Nairobi Metropolitan Development), and Lewis Nguyai (assistant minister, Local Government) would push Kenya’s reform agenda.
Incidentally, in Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s and President Kibaki’s cabinet consultations, was no Nairobi MP found equal to the task of developing the city whose residents they represent?
Githae and Nguyai have important ministries, but the one ministry that directly stands in the way of reform or furthers it is Mutula’s. Standard Online readers have given their reasons. While some give him the benefit of the doubt (like Joseph G. Kamau), some think Mutula Kilonzo cannot say Shibboleth (like Emmanuel Owino).
Like Awunya Mourine, I would like to give the new Justice minister the benefit of the doubt. When taking over office, he said he would prioritise constitutional reforms. I wish him good luck.