Nairobi — Kenyans, hate being told the truth about themselves. This attitude has plunged us into a deep ocean of lies and hatred. This has led to a serious governance deficit leading to death and great suffering of the underprivileged.

We must now admit that we are getting worse when it comes to good governance. The horrifying eruption and continued clan hostilities in Mt Elgon which have claimed 144 lives, left 60,000 Kenyans displaced and investments wasted, is a manifestation of this worrying governance deficit.

Of concern is that the Mt Elgon case raises several disturbing questions. The violence is not a result of a paranoid theory on bloodletting being tested by crazy and savage warriors. It is simply a convergence of poverty and greed. The solutions are known.

Instead of fixing the problem, the matter has been allowed to develop to a unnecessary and futile expenditure of blood and scarce resources. So, why can't the Government of National unity not just end it?

THE NEXT QUESTION IS, WHERE ARE the 10 or so senior politicians bracing for end 2007 presidential elections. How will the vote of the dead and displaced send them to live happily in State House?

What about the rest of us. We know that the death of any Kenyan is a tragedy and no Kenyan should celebrate or gloat over the death of a fellow Kenyan. So, why are we just watching the slaughter of fellow Kenyans?

Although the questions are many, the answer is the same. As a country, we are groping in the dark when it comes to good governance. We lack benchmarks to define, identify and address governance problems. We refuse to accept professional advise and incessantly continue chest-thumping, insisting we are holistically right when we are dead wrong.

This conclusion is driven by a review of two important governance reports. At the international arena, we have the latest 10-year World Bank Group report covering 213 countries. This report is by Daniel Kaufman, Aart Kraay, and Massimo Mastruzzi. It was released in September 2006 and the title is: Governance Matters: Governance Indicators for 1996-2005.

And at the country level, we have Government's Economic Recovery Strategy report released last month, which has been christened ERS Mid-Term Review Popular Version.

The World Bank Group identifies six measurable dimensions of governance indicators. Countries are assessed, rated and ranked on the basis of climbing a 100 step ladder. Those below the 10th step of the 100 step ladder are classified as undergoing "governance crisis" while those which have crossed the 90th step enjoy "exemplary governance".

Let us start with Kenya's best performance of the six dimensions. On top of the list is voice and accountability. This is the extent to which Kenyans are able to participate in selecting their government, freedom of expression, association, and free media. We are on 43rd step, seven steps below midway.

This is followed by regulatory quality, which is the ability of the Government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations. We are on the 42nd step.

Next is effectiveness, a measure of the quality of public services, the degree of Civil Service independence from political pressure, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, as well as Government credibility and commitment. Kenya is placed on the 25th step which compares unfavourably with other EAC members. Uganda is on the 38th step while Tanzania is way up to 42nd.

Kenya's rating on Rule of Law is disheartening. This is the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, and specifically the quality of contract enforcement by the police, courts as well as the probability of crime and violence. On this measure, we are on the 18th step, a mere eight steps away from "governance crisis".

The last two dimensions are political stability and absence of violence, and control of corruption. The rating on both is dismal, placing us on the 15th step.

Now, the ERS report which is not benchmarked, astonishingly, presents seven key achievements in good governance and rule of law.

These are: establishment of Anti-Corruption Commission Steering Committee; establishment of KACC in 2003; full operationalisation of the Department of Governance and Ethics; Completion of public enquiry into the Goldenberg scandal; investigation into the Anglo-leasing; reforms in prison service; and reforms in judiciary.

A SCRUTINY OF THESE achievements vis a vis the six dimensions of governance and also what is happening on the ground reveal little for celebration.

We know for sure that the architects of Goldenberg and Anglo-leasing scandals sleep in their homes instead of prison. We know for a fact that dangerous criminals continue to stage daring prison breakouts. We are aware the Attorney General cannot prosecute corruption cases because KACC sends to him case files without relevant information. Surgical purges in the Judiciary cannot stand test of law. And the team leader of Governance and Ethics was chased to exile by ghosts after he tried to disturb some holy graves and dig fresh ones without consulting the undertakers.

The point is, until we start listening to the truth, and we establish governance benchmarks in a professional and meaningful manner, and then hold government accountable for governance deficit, problems similar to Mt Elgon clashes will continue.