by Elizabeth Akello |
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A people living from hand to mouth, in constant insecurity, full of uncertainty about the future, distrustful of a regime and a leadership filled with sycophants, stooges, looters and one self-proclaimed "professor of politics." This is the miserable package that Kenya is carrying into the 21st century. A grim situation indeed, but to rub salt on to the wounds there are the cavalier and half-hearted attempts which are being made to supposedly bring about change. First there is the economic recovery team placed to work in the midst of the same lot that created the present mess and then there is the long overdue constitutional reform and its stalemate that seems almost engineered. Looking at this mess makes it difficult for anyone to be optimistic about Kenya. However, throwing in the towel is tantamount to writing off one's future. It is a challenge to try and reach under the thick layer of moral rot and find the nation that Kenya has the potential of becoming.
A Kenya without poverty, squalor, unemployment and crime would be a grand sight to behold, but probably too unrealistic to accept at this point. At the turn of the century my main vision for Kenya is one of a society that has risen to the challenge of purging itself of the moral rot that is responsible for the rampant crime, corruption and ethnic chauvinism. I envisage a basic change in behaviour and attitude that can form a foundation for a better life for Kenyans. A life free of the kind of greed and selfishness that is responsible for the current "grabbing and eating" mania.
Realising this vision in a society as corrupt as Kenya cannot be easy. We could think of change of leadership as a solution, but seeing how selfish the present crop of leaders is, we might only end up replacing one gang of looters with another. The culture of "eating" would continue and Kenya would get even more impoverished than it already is.
A new constitution, though necessary, is a purely cosmetic change unless accompanied by a change in attitude and behaviour. It would not bring about the meaningful and lasting changes that Kenya needs. It would be like having a rotten body wrapped in brand new clothes. At some point the rot would defile the clothes. A tyrannical leader will always find ways of circumventing the law and if his/her subjects are as docile as Kenyans are, he/she will definitely get away with it. A new set of laws will not deter Kenyans from voting along tribal lines or selling their votes, or even from their tendency to take or give bribes. The Kenyan problem stems more from a lack of integrity than from a lack of good laws. Although it is a daunting task to try and change the behaviour and attitude of thirty million people, it is the only hope Kenyans have of building a wholesome society, a society that is prosperous not just economically but also socially and morally.
The challenge therefore, is to change Kenyans from being corrupt, ethnic chauvinists to becoming honest, honourable and culturally open-minded people. People who can choose leaders on the basis of merit and not on ethnic considerations, who shun corruption in every form and who are focused on the collective responsibility of improving the living standards of all Kenyans. People who do not build high walls around themselves and live lavishly while those around them live in abject squalor. The challenge is to build a society with a good and gracious heart.
To realise this change, the first place that one would look to for answers is the church, given that moral uprightness is one of the basic tenets of most religions. Kenyans are ardent followers of religion and this presupposes that Kenyans are morally upright or at least that they comprehend the meaning of morality, even if they don't put it into practice. For if Kenyans followed the principles of their religions strictly there would be no greedy, selfish people in the country and there would be no grabbing of public resources. The challenge therefore is for church leaders to impress upon their flock that they should put into practice the teachings of their religion, which in most cases involve leading a life of honesty, truth, justice and selflessness and accepting that all people are equal irrespective of their tribe, race or colour.
Apart from the role played by the church, there are probably many Kenyans who believe as I do, that an active campaign for a new attitude is the best hope for meaningful change in Kenya. These Kenyans should strive, as I will, to preach this change of heart among fellow Kenyans be it at home, at work, in recreational places and even in churches. This new upright way of thinking will enable Kenyans to set new noble and high standards for themselves. Standards that transcend ethnic differences or petty and selfish personal ambitions. Kenya is lucky to have a predominantly youthful population. Such young minds can be molded and influenced so that they develop into strong, honest and independent minds in order that, ten years along the road, we may not have stooges and sycophants in parliament purporting to be representing the common man.
At some point Kenyans will stop selling themselves short through the acceptance of mediocre leadership. Instead, they will seek out men and women of integrity who can be selflessly devoted to leading this country to prosperity. We do have men and women of high intellect and integrity, people like professors Ali Mazrui, John Mbiti, Anyang' Nyong'o and Micere Mugo. They may not be experts in politics but they at least seem to have some integrity, something our present leaders don't even seem to comprehend. Even if these people do not succeed in bringing great economic prosperity, it would be enough to know that they are good and honest people, people with good intentions. After all, even Mwalimu Nyerere did not leave Tanzania in great riches but he is greatly honoured because he was a courageous and humble man. He was someone who could graciously step down from power and let Tanzanians find new ways for prosperity after his ujamaa policies failed to bring economic progress.
It is this kind of leader that Kenyans need. But for this type of leader to be chosen, Kenyans have first to learn the value of integrity and to demand it in every leader as well as in themselves. Then perhaps we will soon be a nation that is not being held hostage by a few selfish power holders who are feasting on the people's resources. Instead we will have a nation that has a firm grip on its destiny.
The Online publishing of WAJIBU is by Koinonia Media Centre.