Let us emulate people who have integrity

What you need to know:

  • Kenyans of shaky integrity are like the shifting sands of the Chalbi Desert, tossed to and fro by every variant wind of life.

  • Only with integrity can we articulate the stories of our founding fathers in a genuine never-ending chain.

We live in a world where “the end justifies the means” is an acceptable paradigm. This sets the stage for a situation where a man steals a blind person’s walking-stick at noon, and he is fêted for boundless ingenuity at his local religious place in the evening. In this perverted world, lawyers bill for undelivered services; physicians recommend unnecessary procedures for monetary considerations; teachers award grades for sexual favours; and politicians promise heaven on earth for votes.

The most sobering political quandary facing Kenya is the failure to honour agreements/promises. The country is increasingly divided due to falsified rhetoric. Our politicians have forgotten that our pathways are manifested through words. And, therefore, the quality of that road equals the integrity of our words. Integrity ensures a level playing field that is stable, rule-based and whose outcomes are predictable. Integrity-based governance gives birth to a just and fair society, built upon institutions that are fortified by the people’s trust. This is the bedrock of genuine democracy. I talk of democracy because Kenya is in it for the long haul; and we owe it to future generations to bequeath them a nation that is better than what our founding fathers handed to us. Unfortunately, like elsewhere in the world, Kenya’s politics and related institutions are seen by many as inimical to integrity. There is unparalleled pessimism and cynicism about politicians and their motives. This cynicism corrodes democracy as it undermines the contract between the electors and the leaders. It subverts the concept of mandate as wananchi cast their ballots hoping that their representatives will act in their interest. Eventually, this devalues the electoral process because the choice between competing political ideologies is an act in futility as there is no hope that the policies will be executed.

SOCIAL CONTRACT

Trust is central to the social contract of democracy. Such trust must be both institutional and personal. Political integrity is crucial to maintaining institutional trust. A trust that transparency and accountability mechanisms are robust enough to compel the government to act within set guidelines. With the party nominations concluded, a great deal of effort will now be focused on the campaigns for votes. An integral component of such an undertaking is an electoral manifesto, which outlines a party’s vision and position on a gamut of developmental issues. Party manifestos are essential for three reasons: They provide tangible evidence on how parties can be held accountable; enable parties to elucidate their priorities; and present a forum for public engagement as they compare and contrast the varying propositions. Electoral manifestos help electors to evaluate their positions vis-à-vis public policy making and implementation.

However, it seems as if we have entered a postmodern political discourse populated by rival truth claims. In this worldview, the borderline between idealism and reality is blurred as the politicians first shoot their arrows then draw the bullseyes around the arrows. It is impossible to hold them accountable on the basis of the content of their manifestos.

As a way out of this political quagmire, six strategies should suffice.

HOLD ACCOUNTABLE

a) Voters should hold candidates and their political parties accountable to their words and deeds during and after elections.

b) Aspirants should adhere to a code of conduct based on truth and love.

c) National vision and aspirations should be the linchpin of party manifestos. Vision 2030 should be the yardstick by which parties’ programmes are measured.

d) Party manifestos should be accessible to all interested voters.

e) Parties should fortify a culture of political integrity and bolster public confidence in the democratic process by instilling fairness, transparency and accountability in their dealings.

f) IEBC and law enforcers should give no quarter to those lacking integrity.

Kenyans of shaky integrity are like the shifting sands of the Chalbi Desert, tossed to and fro by every variant wind of life. Those with integrity are like the Rocky Mountain of Sigor, steadfast and immovable. Let us emulate the latter as they have grasped the art of good living. It is only with integrity that we can articulate the stories of our founding fathers in a genuine never-ending chain.

Prof Wanjohi Kibicho is the author of 'Sex Tourism in Africa: Kenya's Booming Industry' and 'Traditional Martial Arts: A Portrait of a Living Art'.

Twitter: KibichoWanjohi@com