Good Systems our Lifeline

For any institution to thrive and excel, certain principles must be followed. There has to be that set of rules that keeps everyone functioning in a fairly set and predictable manner so that surprises are kept to a minimum. Indeed, surprises are not condoned unless they are pleasant ones.

Good organisations set systems in place because, just as humans must have a leader to achieve a common purpose, so must they have a system to drive and dictate the process. If you have ever tried to get a group of people to work together without an appointed leader of any definition, then you know how it would be like to try and get the same group to work together without a set system and rules.

It is an illusion that man (and woman), left to his own devices, will do good and maintain integrity out of the goodness of his soul. Indeed, he may be willing to do good, but given too much room and space to himself he begins to entertain thoughts, or rather evil begins to whisper to him on all the things he can do and get away with, things that would bring a certain amount of pleasure/comfort to his life and those close to him.

We mostly start as good, well-meaning people. We even have convictions and we don’t shy away from making them known. We swear by them and condemn anyone who dares to behave contrary to our righteous values. Yet, left unchecked, with no one to point out the wrong in our actions, or when immersed in an atmosphere of impunity where everyone does as they please with little or no consequences, we quickly adapt and grab what we can, conscience conveniently discarded with, to be removed from the drawer long after we have relished the delights of the forbidden fruit.

Systems help stop us in our tracks. You are deluded if you think the reason we stay away from many immoral deeds is because we loathe them and cannot be seen anywhere near them. Truth be told, some of them are quite delightful – at least in the short-term – and it’s all we can do to stay away or keep our minds from dwelling on them. The reason why most of us stay away (many don’t) is because there is a law, a system that says it’s wrong, that we are not allowed, and that there will be serious consequences should we succumb, consequences that may find us here or follow us to the afterlife. Often times we also stay away as we can’t bear the shame of being associated with those deeds if caught - so valued is our reputation in society.

We rave and marvel when people behave in a way we didn’t expect, when those in positions of authority disappoint us, when leaders exhibit behaviour that is akin to the animal kingdom in it’s selfishness and utter thoughtlessness. We especially shudder when they somehow get away with it. The fact is, this only happens when there are no proper systems in place. Systems that would, for the most part, check this kind of behaviour and, at the same time, be efficient enough to punish anyone who dares to flout the rules anyway.

Unless we create workable systems, we are expecting too much of our chosen and elected leaders. They are, after all, human, many of whom have had the unequal advantage of studying Political Science, a subject I have no knowledge of but suspect has a lot to do with our pain and misrule in many nations.

This begs the question though, ‘Who will create the system?’ Because, see, whether you like it or not, systems are created over time by the rulers of the day: The very leaders we are trying to contain. Hence the need for all to speak out, make our voices and desires known; hence the need for more and more men and women of integrity to aspire to leadership positions so that, eventually, however painstakingly, bad systems (or sheer lack of systems) will be replaced with systems created by conscientious human beings who fear God and respect their fellow man enough to pursue and want to pursue true justice.

And if anyone is listening, this is as good a time as any for our nation to start thinking systems and forget personalities. Personalities are simply people, full of weaknesses and failures, capable of doing us much harm. What we need are systems, as systems can tame even the worst of human beings and channel their energy only to productive uses. Persons may, if they so wish, expend their negative energy in private vices (which we don’t wish to know or hear about, thank you very much!) But when it comes to public service, we only want the straightjacket of clean and development conscious behaviour and activity. Indeed, should we learn of your secret vice and decide it’s interfering with public service, then we have every right to dispense with you. So important is honour and absolute purity in public service, and it’s time our leaders learnt and lived by that fact.

The sooner we get to the point where we run by systems and not persons, the quicker our civilization and democracy will mature. Excellence will find its place in our land, and the desert places will soon be transformed into the Garden of Eden. For when everyone pulls their weight in a predictable, predetermined manner, then we shall achieve results we have hitherto only dreamed of or seen in other countries.

We are tired of drama and negative surprises, corruption scandal after corruption scandal, violence, oppression, insecurity, poverty: We wish to pull together instead under the direction of set rules and systems, where we know the role and expected results of each person. We wish to channel all our energies according to the rules of the land and create a new and better Kenya. We do not wish to know you as a person. We only wish to know your work. Let your actions precede you and follow after you. Let them tell us who you are. We only wish to know your position on the wheel of our system, and what output is resulting from your input.

If we can work together as a nation within the system, then we can relegate private activities and alliances to private after work hours, where we can conduct our social, familial and religious activities, happy in the knowledge that we have all put in an honest day’s work, and that the wheel of our nation is turning as it should, and that we have enough to eat and to spare both now and for posterity.

That, my dear Kenyans, is what we should all be working towards.

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