I wish all Kenyans a happy and prosperous New Year 2016. Realistically, however, Kenya faces an uncertain future. This is because the Jubilee government missed economic, political and social targets that could have laid the foundation for Kenyans to prosper in 2016. Kenyans must therefore reflect on the type of leaders we need after 2017. The goodwill of the people of Kenyans is being squandered at the altar of self-promotion by a cynical government.
The economy has been extremely hard on Kenyans. The government wasted opportunities in self-glorification and immolation with grandiose projects horribly implemented. No wonder Kenyans think mega projects are designed to siphon public funds.
Accountability has been an anathema for the Jubilee government. Kenyans legitimately seeking dialogue with their government are arrogantly condemned as saboteurs. The arrogance of telling Kenyans “shut up” assumes this country belongs to a chosen few who must lord it, “like it or not”, to the rest of us. The Eurobond transaction will remain a blot until Jubilee government provides correct accounts by allowing a special forensic audit.
In 2015, the cost of living skyrocketed as inflation hit the roof, while a government bent of living beyond its means resorted to punitive taxation on basic goods. The centre piece has been institutionalised corruption that is legitimised by wayward emasculation of anti-corruption agencies through a pliant legislature. The most abhorrent is the attack on the independence of the Auditor-General whose powers to audit expenditure are now subject to the whims of the executive. It confirms fears that Jubilee wants corruption to be a lifestyle for Kenyans.
Lifestyle audits shouldn’t remain selective and periodical. Lifestyle audits must become policy for running clean government. We must abandon the hypocrisy that is an annual ritual of secret wealth declaration. The law must be amended to make wealth declaration public for lifestyle audits to be meaningful in combating the corruption monster. We should not cheat Kenyans while hiding the evidence under lock and key anymore.
Attention to social welfare has plummeted as exemplified by ill-thought experiments in health and education. These two pillars are being run to ground by an intransigent government focused on belting the people it is supposed to serve. Health as a devolved function has been resisted to the point of sabotage by the national government whose operatives only think of the quick buck from procurement. The education system risks being destroyed; teachers shouldn’t be treated as serfs and their welfare as a favour they don’t deserve.
Honest thought should be given to implementation of the constitution. Government must stop schemes to claw back on independence of constitutional commissions and water down the letter and spirit of the constitution through legislative gerrymandering.
In this respect, 2016 is basically an election year. It is, however, unfortunate that the Jubilee government has intentions to steal the election through manipulation of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. The government has embarked on a dangerous scheme to starve the IEBC of money needed for voter registration. It is criminal disenfranchisement for the government to underfund IEBC just because Jubilee support bases have achieved registration targets. The danger with this provocation is Kenyans whose democratic rights are violated could turn to violent reaction. Jubilee wants Kenya back to the chaotic 2007-08 period. Kenyans should not allow this to happen.
Equally challenging are the multiple calls for referenda that could be a recipe for chaos. It is evident that calls for referenda are ignited by political competition rather than a genuine desire to reset the constitution. Allowed to run their course without national consensus, these selfish calls could shuttle the country to precipice of chaos in an election period. I, therefore, reiterate my call for a constitutional conference to audit implementation of the constitution and if necessary, collectively agree on issues for amendments.
It is in this context that the devious plan to amend the Political Parties Act to smoothen the way for the Jubilee coalition is an assault on the constitutional freedoms of political association and participation. It is intended to muzzle the constitutional foundation that Kenya is a multiparty state. Kenyans must remain vigilant against this attempt to return Kenya to a one-party state.
It is no longer a secret the Jubilee government is a reluctant partner with the people of Kenya on devolution. A logjam has been erected against successful implementation of devolution. Devolution of power and resources does not just mean the establishment of county governments. Devolution means a wholesome reorientation of the governance system in Kenya to empower segments of regions, youth, women and people with disabilities previously marginalised by a centralised state. It is betrayal of the Kenyan dream for any government to foster a siege mentality on devolution.
In 2016, Kenyans should remain vigilant and protect the promise of a democratic, prosperous, inclusive and corruption-free country that we deserve.