Kenya has had its share of scandals, kerfuffles, and headline-hitting occurrences in recent years: from petty crimes, fraudulent activities, insurgencies, and banditry to abductions, cultic rituals, cold-blooded murders, and violent uprisings. In any civilization, such ordeals are bound to occur. However, the time taken to arrive at viable solutions often exposes the country to shame and disappointment.
Most corruption scandals in Kenya, along with many other malfeasances, fizzle out as soon as they are unraveled. No updates are ever given, and once citizens are distracted by the next ‘breaking news,’ the cases are quietly closed.Politicians, concerned stakeholders, and the media rush to condemn and call out the perpetrators of these vices. But as soon as the cameras zoom out and the curtains fall, darkness engulfs the scene.“We shall make sure that...” and “No one will be spared...” are common phrases trotted out during such fiascos. Yet when it comes to real accountability, these assurances rarely bear fruit.
Such stodgy tactics work well in convincing the average mwananchi that everything is under control. However, those who have been in the game long enough know it’s a dead end. Once the grandiose speeches, full of intrepid connotations, are delivered, the politicians hop into their choppers,never to be seen again until another calamity befalls the local mwananchi.
Since Kenya’s liberation from the shackles of colonialism, no politician has truly been held accountable for their heinous actions. The furthest they ever get from facing justice are meager fines or light sentences. The script is always the same: publicize their crimes, pretend to act on them, and then it's over.
It’s no surprise the judiciary is often called a toothless dog. As long as it fails to prosecute those seated at the high table just as it does those beneath it, faith in this vital arm of government will continue to dwindle. Nothing gives more comfort to the local mwananchi than a fair hearing and prevailing justice. Take that away, and he will surely repudiate the government and all its forms.
The Banditry Blight
A case in point is the archaic tradition of banditry, which has ravaged most nomad-dominated counties like a plague. Whereas these regions possess high economic potential, frequent gunfire and spiraling hostility cripple their development. This renders them warzones that businessmen and non-locals dare not venture into.
The disenfranchisement of this belt places a definite strain on the Kenyan shilling, considering the capabilities it holds, the slow pace toward Vision 2030, and the vast resources required to maintain peace in these war-torn areas.
According to research by the National Crime and Research Centre (NCRC), at least 300 people die annually from banditry-related activities. Despite the formation of initiatives such as Operation Maliza Uhalifu, aimed at combating banditry, lives continue to be lost.
The path to lasting peace is stifled by persistent interference from politicians and community leaders. These are the same individuals who speak from both sides of their mouths;calling for peace in one meeting and inciting war in the next. Amid divisive rhetoric, those who sound the war cry reap good. Real good.
The Awakening We Need
There is a desperate need for a paradigm shift in the powers we grant to those we elect. If those at the high table truly desired peace in banditry-prone regions, they would have achieved it by now. But tribalism continues to hold the local man captive, ultimately shaping the destiny of entire communities.
The language of accountability is one that most politicians don’t speak and one that a vast majority of wananchi don’t understand either.Leaders must act on crimes, scandals, and disasters more than they talk about them. Regular updates on the progress of cases, policies, and committees should be prioritized.
Action is the only gospel. No nation achieves advancement except through accountability and goodwill. All other gimmicks are distractions, engineered to hypnotize mwananchi into doing the bidding of the higher lords.
Verily, I say unto you: the awakening is here. Embrace it.