• By campaigning for a candidate officially, by using state resources to further this interest and by establishing coalitions the President is upsetting national unity, democracy, the rule of law and the participation by the people.
• Legally and morally the Constitution prohibits a sitting exiting president from engaging publicly in choosing and declaring who his or her suitor is.
Image: PSCU
By campaigning for a candidate officially, by using state resources to further this interest and by establishing coalitions the President is upsetting national unity, democracy, the rule of law and the participation by the people.
Legally and morally the Constitution prohibits a sitting exiting president from engaging publicly in choosing and declaring who his or her suitor is.
The enactment of the Constitution 2010 reimagined the presidency as the symbol and organ of national unity and further drew up the infrastructure of its conduct in article 10 (2).
Article 10 (2) defined the character and conduct of the presidency and set out the moral compass on how the presidency should drive the nation towards the establishment of national identity and a national character towards peace, sustained development and stability.
It, therefore, goes without saying that the presidency has been the greatest divisive organ in the history of Kenya and where the focus must be set to unite the nation.
It goes without saying that presidential aspirants have been the reason why Kenya has gone up in flames before.
The reason behind the hatred, negative tribal vitriol and mobilization and the reason why they must be called out every time they want to mobilize Kenya into chaos for personal gain.
We now see that in 2022 hatred has been shaped, mainstreamed, funded, nationalized and driven by the presidency against a certain side of the political divide.
Article 10(2) of the National Values and Principles of Governance referred to in the Constitution include:(a) Patriotism, national unity, sharing and devolution of power, the rule of law, democracy and participation of the people;(b) Human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusiveness, equality, human rights, non-discrimination and protection of the marginalized;(c) Good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability; and (d) Sustainable development.
National Values and Principles of Governance are fundamental beliefs or ideals that guide the choices, actions and behaviour of a nation.
They are critical in building national identity and national character that guides the realization of national development.
In addition, National Values exert influence on the way individuals relate with one another, how communities engage one another and how citizens and government interact to promote peace, national unity and cohesion.
National Values and Principles of Governance are key in managing diversity and building national social capital that surpasses ethnic, religious, class and racial limitations.
They cultivate internal social and cultural coherence which are based on national norms and interests that govern interactions focused on achieving the national common good.
Kenya moved from a monarchy or an autocratic state when we achieved constitutional independence in 2010 after our independence the constitution in 1963 was mutilated 35 times to deny us legal independence by post-independent political autocrats.
By that virtue of realizing the legal fortitude to enjoy the freedom that is both spiritual, religious, social and economic a cabal of post-independent successors gathered to deny us its entrenchment.
A forced lacuna that displays freedom on paper and slavery in life.
They are now furthering a forced and flawed doctrine of succession rather than transition.
Succession distorts the presidency and power as private property that can only be inherited through the instruments of nepotism or the utensils of cronyism.
Succession grades the DNA of others as pedigree and others as the underdogs or short coat mongrels.
The argument is on whether a ruaka shepherd is worthy to feed on pellets or the butcher's remains.
Transition on the other hand levels Kenyans as equals and identifies them through the prisms of article 10(2) and the bill of rights that establishes us of an equal dominant DNA.
And gives us the shared power and authority from the beginning through God in article 1.
Through that Kenyans then establish authorities and institutions that manage power, how it is exercised and how it transitions through timed social contracts that are designed as Performance Contracts to achieve a comfortable social-economic end.
The power to hire and fire is only the timed right of Kenyans and an eternal right to God in any manner He pleases.
Therefore the President must restrain himself not to upset Patriotism, national unity, sharing and devolution of power, the rule of law, democracy and participation of the people; Human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusiveness, equality, human rights, non-discrimination and protection of the marginalized; Good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability; and purely focus on leaving Kenya at the point of sustainable development.
Every Kenyan has the responsibility of defending the country and our dear Constitution.
Dennis Nthumbi is a Pastor and Governance Expert.