Isaac Masidza
5 October 2008
opinion
Nairobi — The current government, just like the previous ones, seems to enjoy squandering taxpayer's money.
The Government also has a healthy disregard for public opinion thus perpetuating the culture of impunity started by previous regimes.
I make the assertion considering the abandon with which the authorities rush to appoint commissions of inquiry every time there is a problem.
Not only are these commissions resource-draining; they also occupy valuable office space that could be put to productive use.
Were the Government to follow up on recommendations from the myriad enquiries, then perhaps it could exonerate itself.
But what have we seen since the Ghai-led commission of constitutional review? All its recommendations have mostly been ignored, thus bringing to naught the setting up of the commissions and the vast resources the taxpayer pours into them.
I have opined in a previous entreaty that the purpose of setting up the enquiries in the first place seems to be; to bury the problem, have it forgotten and move on a la business as usual.
Certainly, this seems to have been the case with the Kiruki enquiry into the activities of the Artur brothers.
While the public was treated to the circus at the enquiry, the naughty brothers were shooed out of the country, never mind that they had abused all and sundry.
That we have problems in the way we conduct public affairs is not in doubt. The economy is ailing; corruption goes on unabated despite protestations of zero tolerance to the vice.
Infrastructure continues to go to waste thus slowing development. Poverty levels are rising by the day. Inflation is hitting ever so much harder.
Our leadership is apparently oblivious to these realities as they wallow in their privileged luxuries provided of course by the taxpayer.
The problem is US. Looking at the rapid development of the Asian tigers wishfully is a waste of time.
We must ask why a country like Malaysia with which we were at par 40 years ago is today so far away in development.
While we are at it, we must acknowledge that we cannot use their blueprint to spur development at home. The reality is that we are the authors of our underdevelopment.
And so, rather than looking to appoint yet another gathering of eminent persons from these fast-developing nations to come and show us how they have done it, we must look inward, address that which ails us, and then start looking for home grown solutions.
It is escapist for the Government to call in foreign experts to show the obvious, that by mismanaging our resources, we stagnate economic growth.
All of the theories about industrialising by 2020, Vision 2030 and all those high-sounding slogans, are stuff that dreams are made of if we fail to recognise that we are sick morally and politically.
I cannot pretend to have answers to what bedevils us. Nevertheless, as a public spirited Kenyan, I can only stimulate debate trough this column by offering my two-penny worth of thought.
We must first address the issue of governance. The immediate thing to do is to put in place a new constitution.
A new constitution ratified by the Wanjirus and Achiengs will ensure prudent handling of the country's resources.
More importantly, a new dispensation properly midwifed will put into public office men and women who will have the nation's interests at heart.
This country has enough resources to put in place a Marshal plan that will spur development. Rather than call in people to bring us their solutions, we can look at our unique circumstances and come up with ways to develop.
Is the Grand Coalition governing now up to the task? The jury is still out on this one.
Corruption is endemic in Kenya. Influence peddlers abound in corridors of power.
These power men have over time ensured that resources are diverted into theirs and their friends' pockets rather than to intended projects.
If Kenyans can retire these vampires, I believe we will be well on the path of recovery.
After sorting out issues of governance, it will be time to look at the economy.
Where do our strengths lie? If we identify for instance agriculture, we must deliberately pursue policies that promote this sector.
We have many sectors in which we can be strong if the Government puts in place the correct policies. These do not include schemes like Goldenberg.
Above all, let us not mortgage the country to anybody; be they Libyans, Britons or Chinese, investment is good for any economy.
Nevertheless, when this is at variance with the general good of the citizens, it then becomes a monster designed to keep the citizens poor, a few public officers happy and the foreign investor laughing all the way to the bank.
Mr Masidza is a communications consultant.
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