2015 wasn't good but 2017 isn't far away

NAIROBI: “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day”—Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Today we start the year 2016, the last year to that of the next election. It is a significant year for a number of reasons. Since the last election in March 2013, a lot of water has gone under the bridge. As a nation we have had moments to celebrate but also, as one big family, we have had reasons to cry too.

When our athletes surged to the top of the global chart ratings, locally another thieving breed had worked ‘miracles’ to make billions disappear just like that. We have good and sad stories to tell about 2015. It begins with the President’s promise that he has drawn the red line on corruption; then the sad flipside that the tree of corruption is actually greener than it ever was in the last three years!

We have noted with alarm for example that land grabbing is back. Last week alone we read about three schools in Nairobi whose lands had been excised by individuals who obviously have learnt one or two things about what ‘crime’ you can still commit and get away with despite the seemingly changing times and governance discipline. It seems that we actually learned from the attempt to ‘pickpocket’ Langata Primary School that some things are still possible.

We have also had painful moments with regard to the extravagance in Government, where we found our tax money had even been used to procure goods, including condom dispensers, at exaggerated prices. 

Actually these days some of us get the feeling that the only reason some people in Government appear moved to fight corruption, as opposed to daily verbal condemnation of the vice that’s stunting our growth, is because they are responding to public pressure. If this is the case then obviously we shall need a lot more of it in 2016.

We have also had a Parliament that has excelled in three areas. First it is in serving as the whip lash for the Executive, rather than keeping in check, through the place of pride given it by the so-called “tyranny of numbers”. In this regard, Parliament has decided to help Jubilee mandarins dilute the Constitution that was passed in 2010 by returning the powers of imperial presidency, through erosion of the independence of the military and police chiefs as well as the freedom of the media and civil society groups.

Thirdly, Parliament has proven to be a haven of black and blue-suited thieves and their ‘flower-girls’; always planning the next raid on our taxes through false mileage claims and self-serving awards of salaries, bonuses and outright daylight robbery on Kenyans. I was glad to know from one MP that they no longer like being introduced in private encounters as legislators because of the connotation that title now bears.

Alongside Parliament’s lump, the county managers have ‘devolved’ corruption to the point Kenyans are beginning to get uneasy with the well-intentioned process of devolving decision-making and governance as well as resources to the ‘grassroots’.

We also cried over the surge in terror attacks and in the process drove to oblivion the comical character called Joseph ole Lenku and his ‘friend’ David Kimaiyo. We have in their place Brig (Rtd) Joseph ole Nkaissery who sees the gun as a solution to every security problem and the country as one big military kraal with himself as the General bellowing orders left, right and centre on behalf of the Commander-in Chief.

We have a big mess in the main sectors, especially Health and Education, that have been riddled with strikes and today could be the Grand Lodge where demotivation and don’t-care staff attitude resides. Luckily, we have two new Cabinet Secretaries – Dr Cleophas Mailu and Dr Fred Matiang’i – who hopefully will infuse fresh thoughts and style of management. In fact, Jubilee’s re-election will hinge partly on the dexterity with which these two go about their work, and the freedom they will get.

In particular, Matiang’i will be seeking to review the country’s education curriculum but not before creating a conducive environment through amity between the key stakeholders.

Today we start off 2016 with a prayer like any family would have, that it will not only be different from 2015, but even far much better. Since we are only 19 months to elections, you can expect that the political exchanges will continue to rise.

As President Uhuru and Deputy President William Ruto wake up this morning to the reality that kumbe 2017 and even 2022 isn’t that far away, the Opposition too will be faced with its own problems. They include the fight for greater unity and relevance, as well as bid to survive the normal molestation from an Executive using the whip of incumbency, more so as we get closer to elections.

As we brace ourselves for the shift in political gears, friends may you have a fruitful 2016. Happy New Year.