The New Dance

They said civic education had been well carried out and that Kenyans understood exactly what was in the proposed new constitution. Remember those days not long ago?

They said Kenyans would decide for themselves because they had read and understood the proposals of the draft law.

Now, suddenly, even the Government itself cannot tell what on earth was the meaning of scrapping Provincial Administration, a phrase we heard over and over again during the heated campaigns. I wonder what the average Kenyan makes of this New Law that the government itself can’t seem to unpack.

The implementation of the new law is much like an unborn baby where the expectant mother hopes and prays that the new baby is whole, beautiful and healthy. That it has all its toes and is a delight to look at; and that, save for a few birthmarks, its beauty takes one’s breath away. We hope and pray there will be no unpleasant surprises.

Personally I don’t pretend to get all the details of the interpretation of this law, but I do know there is something wrong when you tell people something ‘will be scrapped’ only to later, when the cat is in the bag, to say ‘Uhh, actually, it will not be scrapped, it will only be restructured, maybe even retained.’ Mh, now what does that even mean? Either you knew all along it would not be scrapped but used the deceptive line to lure unsuspecting voters, or you are now changing the rule of the game to play to your utmost advantage. A third option is simply unimaginable, that maybe even the law makers did not understand all the issues in the draft? Oh dear!

Mark you, this is only one issue in the new law. So one can’t help wonder whether we will go through this same ritual when deciding the fate of all the other issues, like how secular should our government be, who has greater authority, the governor or regional coordinators, how do we implement the right to decent housing, food, water, basic education…? etc.

Which brings to mind that interesting proverb I often see on K24 TV, ‘When the music changes, so does the dance.’ Trust me a lot has changed since the promulgation. Besides not being able to decide whether to scrap or retain Provincial Administration, now MPs and other interested parties are looking ahead to that all-important Senator/Governor seat. So much so that after by-elections, the word on the mouth of new MPs is ‘Watch this space, next time I’m going for Senator.’ Ouch!

The saddest thing about all this is, a scenario is developing where even at Senate and Governor level we will end up with recycled leaders, while the now lowly position of MP will be left to the new incomers to the game. So what changes? When we are fighting hard to change our country by injecting a new spirit and crop of leaders at a different level than what we have always had, the existing leaders have lined up to grab those new positions.

You probably wonder why we can’t just not elect/nominate them. Only someone completely new to politics would ask that question. Truth is, except for the final vote where we actually go to the polling stations, the common man has very little to do with who parties nominate to vie for positions. And eventually we only choose from those already nominated. Unless we have independent candidates not affiliated to parties, the choice for nominee is usually made for us. I mean it is parties who even decide to ‘field and back one candidate,’ isn’t it?

So now the new dance is to go round the newly created Counties with the pretex of holding all manner of meetings, while in reality leaders are gearing up and beginning campaigns for positions of Senator or Governor. Never mind that these positions are not meant to be filled till 2012, oh boy! I wonder whether anyone is doing what they are actually supposed to be doing anymore – so engrossed are they with the possible new job ahead.

Well, I know in any career people aspire to greatness and promotion, but doesn’t that come as a result of hard work, productivity, reward for commitment? Why is it that politicians have the privilege of deciding their promotion without pegging it on any kind of productivity or hard work?

Trouble is, they don’t miss a beat, our leaders. They catch on to the new tune quite quickly and begin dancing before the rest of us can say ‘pause.’ By the time we catch up the song is far gone, and we are in old news, the leaders having moved on to something else. This has always been the tactic; cover up for old blunders with new ones, even if you have to invent them. By the time we cry foul, there’s a new, even bigger thing to worry about, and so our feeble voices are drowned out.

The hope and prayer is that we don’t waste such a grand opportunity, the chance to change and build Kenya anew, just to accommodate political greed. The hope is that we actually positively implement the new law, and that Kenyans finally get to breathe the fresh air of plenty, development, contentment they have always yearned for. 45 years is a long time to wait for something.