On Monday last week, President
Kenyatta was heckled in Migori. Well I don’t mean to delve into the politics of
the incident. However it emerged that a section of the crowd may have been paid
by a member of Parliament to disrupt the President’s address. Now this is the
subject of our sharing today.
One question that many
people have struggled to answer is how to transform Kenya. What will it take to
have a just country with peace, love and harmony among its citizens as they
individually and collectively pursue the development agenda. How can we
eradicate corruption, tribal animosity, injustice, poverty and disease in Kenya?
How can Kenya cease from being a nation of haves and have-nots to one where all
people can access opportunities equally and fairly?
I believe that the
solution rests in redefining our culture. Article 10 of the Constitution has
Kenya’s national values and principles of governance. They include patriotism,
national unity, rule of law, participation of the people, human dignity, social
justice, inclusiveness, integrity, transparency, accountability and sustainable
development among others. This is the closest the law comes to defining our
culture. However the most important question is whether these values are
practiced in our day to day lives. Do we act justly and treat others with
dignity? Are we transparent and accountable in our undertakings?
A quick glance at how we
engage reveals that Kenya is far from living by these values. We are rarely our
brother’s keeper. The ‘me-myself and I’ syndrome has consumed us fully well.
This is the issue the President Kenyatta should put more emphasis. The
President should consider using his position and authority to re-define Kenya’s
culture. This task has been largely left to the political class who until now
continue to hold the nation at ransom.
The President, as he has committed to,
should continue rising above partisan politics and help Kenya define itself
differently. This is now even about President Kenyatta’s re-election in 2017,
it is about leaving a lasting legacy that will be remembered by generations to
come.
President Kenyatta has
done well in positioning Kenya as an investment hub and diplomatic pillar in
Africa. However his real legacy will be in leaving a more united country where
your name, tribe and place of origin do not matter.
While the President’s
father heralded Independence from colonial masters, President Kenyatta must
herald liberation from tribalism, corruption and partisan politics. In doing so
the President will help Kenyan’s define their culture that will be resident in
their hearts and minds and felt in all undertakings.
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