Let’s have the referendum but one on simplifying our governance

I personally see absolutely no problem with a referendum. My criticism would be that the various proposals being circulated don’t go to the heart of the matter.

(READ: The referendum fever)

More money to the counties without rigorous accountability is a stupid idea. Most of the cash is being wasted on retreats at Coast hotels and trips to the US, Dubai, Singapore and other shopping havens.

For some reason I have yet to fathom, Biblical sites in Israel are particular favourites with members of the county assemblies.

The trips have become a serious embarrassment. From what the ministry of Foreign Affairs told us some months back, several foreign governments have officially complained.

The county delegations are uncoordinated and untidy. And they keep travelling, to the inconvenience of the hosts. (READ: Now county leaders dump foreign trips)

Meanwhile, the senators are imposing themselves through the new County Development Boards (CBD) as the new overseers of the counties. I don’t understand what professional audit role they can possibly play other than trying to look busy and useful.

ABOLISH SENATE

One referendum proposal I would push is to abolish this Senate institution. Its roles can be transferred to the National Assembly. And we will save good money.

Which brings me to my case. There is too much government already. I blame it on the Constitution for creating too many unnecessary offices.

From a fumbling central government, we now have disorderly and spendthrift counties, countless commissions comprising layabouts who spend most of their time at press conferences, Nema, the National Police Service Commission, the Independent Police Oversight Commission (Ipoa), and on and on and on.

And there is a lot of overlapping as with the Economic and Anti-Corruption Crimes Commission (EACC) and the Inspectorate of State Corporations.

Heck, you can’t move without tripping over one or the other. Then there are the higher courts. When did you hear them sitting for straightforward trials like the SM Otieno saga, which the public could follow?

All they do is busy themselves entertaining injunctions and where-is-the-media suits from activists and busybodies. It has come to the point where it is impossible in this country for anybody to do anything without attracting a lawsuit.

The courts need to operate with more common sense. We need to simplify our governance. And make it more rational. It would be cheaper, and it works.

But since I don’t expect the fat cats already in those offices to willingly give up their jobs, a referendum that pushes them out would be ideal.

However, I very well know the public will be cleverly manipulated not to ask the right questions. Or to point out that we don’t need 2,000 MCAs, an 400-member legislature, and more than a dozen sitting commissions.

ENDLESS BATTLES

My almost anarchic hope actually rests on the whole deck of cards collapsing When I see gridlock in decision-making, I see that eventuality happening faster.

I am quite happy with the ongoing fight between governors and senators over the CBD law. I say halleluya when I hear the Commission for the Administration of Justice (Ombudsman) is investigating the EACC over possible corruption, and vice-versa.

I like it when the National Land Commission gets into endless battles with Charity Ngilu.

So do I get elated when the Court of Appeal sulks over mandates with the Supreme Court (which acts suspiciously swiftly on election petitions, incidentally). I kick myself on the sides with pleasure when IPOA is at loggerheads with the National Police Service Commission over bungled police recruitment and goes to court about it.

Let’s face it. We created a disjointed government structure. This is what we need to fix, not to give money to governors who can’t even run a cattle dip.

The bottom line is that we will bankrupt this country. The wealth creators who don’t spend their time at press conferences or chasing “rights” lawsuits will soon tire of this charade, make no mistake about that.

And when the central government finds out that it has no more money to run its operations, the county governments and the rest of the gravy train created by the Constitution will stall. Then we will all have to sober up.

I am looking forward to that day; it is coming.

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