Let’s say no to apathy, lest it destroys us

A wall crowded with campaign posters of various candidates in Uasin Gishu County. When poorly-handled, nominations have occasioned voter-apathy in past elections, especially where popular candidates were rigged out. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • In Kenya, the scandals have become so numerous and the leadership so selfish that we have become accustomed to the betrayal.
  • Since devolution, the most scandalous group of elected leaders have been the members of the county assemblies.
  • The MCA's have hounded governors and desecrated the very essence of leadership as they focus on perks and bench marking trips. 

US President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that his predecessor, Barack Obama, wiretaped his phones during the campaign, reminded me of the real wiretaping involving President Richard Nixon some 40 years ago.

Leon Jaworski investigated and proved that President Nixon had been party to what came to be known as the “Watergate Scandal” that eventually led to his resignation.

Kenyans can easily identify with the deep emotion of betrayal and disappointment felt by Jaworski on discovering how low Nixon had sunk. Kenyans now know how low elected leaders in the national and local governments can sink.
But let me backtrack a little. This is what Leon’s son, Joseph Jaworski, wrote in March 1973 (in a book Synchronicity, the Inner Path of Leadership) after his father told him what he had uncovered.

“My mind flashed back to the many times I heard Richard Nixon speak to the American people on television about Watergate, reassuring us that he was not involved, that this whole affair was blown out of proportion. That was the public Nixon. Now I was seeing the Private Nixon – The real Richard Nixon. His betrayal of the Constitution and his staggering abuse of power made me sick to my stomach.

FEELING OF FEAR

I had a feeling of fear for our entire country that following the realisation that we were being led by a man with so little character. How could someone with such a low moral and ethical base ascend to the highest office of the most powerful nation in the world? How could this happen? How could we prevent this from ever happening again?”

On June 17, 1972, burglars were arrested inside the Democratic Party offices in the Watergate building in Washington, DC. They were trying to wiretap phones and steal secret documents. President Nixon tried and failed to cover up the crime. Although he was never prosecuted, the Watergate scandal changed American politics forever.

What struck me most about Jarworski was how rarely we in Kenya seem disappointed by the callous betrayal of public trust by politicians. Nixon eventually resigned after the House of Representatives voted to impeach him for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, criminal cover-up and violations of the Constitution.

In Kenya, the scandals have become so numerous and the leadership so selfish that we have become accustomed to the betrayal. Since devolution, the most scandalous group of elected leaders have been the members of the county assemblies.

They have hounded governors and desecrated the very essence of leadership as they focus on perks and bench marking trips. 

DRESSING DOWN

Another lot that needs a dressing down is in the National Assembly and the Senate. It is disheartening to hear that they are plotting to get an eight-month severance pay that will cost the taxpayer a whopping Sh2.4 billion. Salaries and Remuneration Committee boss Sarah Serem has vowed that such schemes are illegal and will not be entertained.

She has stood for the common good and it is time Kenyans of goodwill supported her in the quest to safeguard national resources from the greedy few, just as Joseph Jaworski asked: “How can we prevent this from happening again?” The answer lies in saying no to apathy and yes to true leadership for the greater good. Let our vote be our weapon of choice.

Dr Mwangi is the managing director, Centre for Personal Leadership. [email protected]