What’s next after the referendum
By ISAAC NEWTON KINITY
Published Aug. 22, 2010
The provision of a good constitution and good institutions has been very necessary in Kenya over a period of many years. Kenyans have witnessed a very trying period of rampant corruption and poor governance, associated with political murders, extra judicial killings of the Kenya youth and many other political crimes. Today Kenyans are one step ahead, with a new constitution, which will help to correct the past mischiefs. But the constitution as a document with laws and regulation to govern a nation, requires respect and protection. In the past, Kenyan leaders have continuously abused and violated some good areas and articles of the old constitution. The old constitution had good clauses and articles, which provided guidance into the areas of the protection of Kenyans and their properties, areas which provided harsh penalties and sentences for those who looted Public Funds and other areas and articles which forbid political murders and/or Extra Judicial killings.
The history of different nations in the world, tells us that bad leaders violate and abuse even very good constitutions. Dictators are individual leaders who violate and abuse the Constitutions and laws of their Nations. They do whatever they wish to do regardless of the law and the wishes of their people. The systems in the World where Nations benefit from their constitutions, is only where leaders are elected on the bases of their Integrity, honesty, transparency and accountability. That is where background check is conducted on any would be leader, to determine his/her proven abilities to lead, among other factors.
In USA and other prosperous Nations, where constitutions have been extremely beneficial, and where democracy is said to flourish, background check is always essential in every election and on every political candidate and on every other individual in position of governance. That ensures that individuals with criminal history and other bad moral behavior do not ascend to leadership positions. Constitutions are tools to help in Governance in every Nation but not for use to identify good leaders.
The new Constitution should be accompanied by good leaders with good moral character and behavior. Good Governance in Kenya will emanate from the exercise of the new constitution by honest, transparent and accountable Kenyans who will be elected to lead the Nation. The election of individual Kenyans of bad moral behavior and bad history will not save Kenya even with the new Constitution. Several issues in various departments in the Government where employment services to the citizens and the purchases of items and equipments are done corruptly, In the Parliament where the Members of Parliament hike their pay whenever they feel, In the education sector where not only money is being embezzled but also where certificates are corruptly issued to unqualified individuals, in the marketing area of the government, where the common Kenyan has continued to loose a lot of money, in the Kenya Army where money is embezzled in a magnified way, leaving the Army personnel with meager pay and poor diet and in other private sector where the employee and the farmer are left suffering out of corruption, should be addressed effectively by individual Kenyans whose blood has not been tainted with experiences of political murder and corruption.
The international community, should not be hoodwinked to think that only the new constitution was necessary in Kenya for change. There will never be positive change if we will continue to recycle the same individuals who have messed Kenya, into positions of leadership. There should be men and women of integrity, who are honest, transparent and accountable in the future governance in Kenya so that the new constitution can be meaningful to the Kenyan people. The individual Kenyan Members of Parliament who have continued to increase their salaries from time to time despite the unbearable poverty of Kenyans and the high inflation which has impoverished Kenyans further, should not be elected to any position of leadership in Kenya. The abnormal increament of the MPs salary is by itself official corruption of looting public funds. It is no different to the Goldenberg and Anglo leasing scandals. They are the same people who have continued to loot public funds with impunity. Kenyans should go for the background check of their would be leaders before they ascend to leadership. This is the only way to keep Kenya safe. It is the only means of eradicating corruption and bringing in good Governance to Kenya.
