Kenyan’s Moment; On the Tipping Point of Informing Change and Redefining National Dialogue.

Kenyan’s Moment; On the Tipping Point of Informing Change and Redefining National Dialogue.

Kenya’s moment is now. It was not yesterday neither is it tomorrow. Truly, the country is at a tipping point that would either right all the wrongs deemed normal or slide back to the usual. But I don’t believe we have come this far only for the pot to break at the doorstep. I think the conversation has just started.

The Generation Z revolution, for that is what it is, has put us in a position to redefine many things. Yet, the political class is in a race to regain control of the whole issue. And that is the only huddle we are contending with for now. One that we must avoid falling trap into.

Many people have been looking at how things happen from the periphery for years wondering what to do. Like Niyi Osundare, in his poem Not My Business, they have always cared very little or thought they didn’t have the power to change a thing. But Generation Z decided being passive is a choice and they chose to be active. They chose to take their rightful yam.

And being active in our country’s governance they (we) have become. However, we cannot assume that all is right simply because the knock has not been on our door. The fact that the owner of the yam has not been left to eat his yam peacefully means there is no peace yet.

The call by the president to have a dialogue with Generation Z is a welcome move but one that should be threaded with caution. It is easier for emotions to be massaged and like the morning dew in the face of the sun, the original intent of this course be forgotten. It must be clear to everyone, that this is the beginning and that the following actions should be taken.

Lifestyle Audits

Kenya needs a serious lifestyle audit to tame corruption, not the usual game we see during the vetting process. Photo credit; The Chronicle
Kenya needs a serious lifestyle audit to tame corruption, not the usual game we see during the vetting process. Photo credit; The Chronicle

I agree with Kipchumba Murkomen that lifestyle audits should be done for public servants beginning with the executive, followed by the legislature and other civil servants. But this time around it should not be the usual audits that get brandished on our faces.

However, I disagree with him on the approach he proposes which I know will be in his favour. This is not a proposal for the next set of leaders, nay. It begins with those in power now. The beauty is that we have some leverage to start from.

First, we have the declarations made about 2 years ago by the executive. Those need to be listed against their names. Generation Z should use their wit and tech power to collect information about the current status of these individuals’ wealth, which should be listed next to their first tables of wealth declaration.

Because we know their salaries, we will calculate their earnings from the 2 years in office. For any extra money, suppose they are purported to be from business, KRA should provide the tax returns of those individuals for the said period and a tally should be made and if possible, the business deals taken within that time declared. Otherwise, half of the earnings above their total salary earned should be returned to the treasury with immediate effect.

That is what qualifies for an audit and openness. It should not stop at that, where the numbers are not adding up, all looted money should be returned to the government in a special account that will be created for this sole purpose.

All money remitted to this account will serve one purpose only, repaying the public debt Kenya owes its lenders. Where accounts are tabled and the individual distance him/herself, all monies in those accounts should go into the debt repayment account.

The Treasury will make this account open and regularly update Kenyans on this exercise and remittances to lenders should be done monthly. That way we will be actively monitoring our debt situation because it has been used as an excuse for looting for ages now. This should then be done to the members of parliament, senators, governors, and all civil servants. It will not be long before we clear our debt.

A goodwill rather than a judicial process

Kenya,  A Luta Continua until corruption and bad governance are defeated.
Kenya, A Luta Continua until corruption and bad governance are defeated. Photo credit; Facebook

This exercise should not be a judicial process. It is a goodwill undertaking where the leaders come before the people in a public Baraza (X spaces can serve this purpose) and become accountable. They should humbly seek forgiveness and once done, we begin on a clean slate.

I was pained to listen to a president, former president Uhuru Kenyatta stand and tell Kenyans that over 2 billion was (is) stolen daily from the government and ask what we wanted him to do. Now we know what to do because it is our government.

Nothing is stupefying like stealing shamelessly, brandishing the same before the owner as if asking them, “What can you do,” with nothing to show. If the president’s hands are tied, our hands as the people are not, or so we have realized much as it has been so for ages.

This is the moment Kenya has to address thorny issues like corruption that have stagnated economic development and growth for ages once and for all. It is too risky to fail to address this now because it takes generations to instigate a change. This is the moment for Kenya.

Radical changes in government

I decided to let this be secondary because it needs to have been done yesterday. For far too long, we have put up with a lot of incompetence in the Kenyan government. Did Kenya’s technocrats and men of ability evaporate?

Kenya are entitled to an immediate change in government. The president is already late in effecting cabinet changes, cutting down on motorcades among other raft measures. Photo credit; Tiny Buddha
Kenyans are entitled to an immediate change in government. The president is already late in effecting cabinet changes, cutting down on motorcades among other raft measures. Photo credit; Tiny Buddha

The level of inability across government is wanting. Parliament has lost its credibility already and people should recall their members of parliament and choose sober leaders. Meanwhile, we are not letting the executive continue to run the country like a kindergarten.

It may sound a bit controversial but let me say it anyway. The president has a chance to make it right for this once, but it all depends on which side he takes. But then, whichever side he takes, he and his leadership will have to walk on their toes from this day going forward. Let’s not allow things to be business as usual.

Kenya’s moment is now. We have taken huge strides to let the cause tip backwards. If we resort to our usual business, the lives of our precious Kenyans lost in the struggle will be in vain. Those who have remained with the scars as evidence of this struggle will have nothing to smile at in the future in the words of Gramps Morgan.

This is a rallying call to all of us, in government and out government, supporting the current regime or against it, that we have one chance to change the course of our country for the better. For the sake of goodwill, this is our moment, and we must not let it slip by.

Geoffrey Ndege

Geoffrey Ndege

Geoffrey Ndege is the Editor and topical contributor for the Daily Focus. He writes in the areas of Science, Manufacturing, Technology, Innovation, Governance, Management and International Emerging Issues. For featuring, promotions or support, reach out to us at info@dailyfocus.co.ke
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