Corruption will not end. Election theft will not end. Human rights abuses won’t end until Kenyans free themselves through mass action\
By Nyambega Gisesa
The primary problem is the culture of impunity. This culture was created and has been perpetuated for 56 years by those occupying and abusing public office instead of using them to serve Kenyans.
Second, it is this culture of impunity that makes those in power subvert the constitution, undermine democracy and conduct themselves as if they are above the law and treat Kenyans with utter contempt.
It is the same culture of impunity that makes it possible for Uhuru Kenyatta and others like him to commit egregious human rights abuses without consequences.
Third – and linked to the culture of impunity – is the undermining and compromising all constitution bodies, institutions and commissions that were intended to check excessive excesses and guarantee the functioning of Kenya as a democracy governed by the rule of law. Without a robust judiciary, a strong legal system, a fully independent and vibrant parliament, a strong civil society and an independent media, democracy cannot grow. This is critical. Unfortunately, and unacceptably in Kenya, those in power like Uhuru Kenyatta also happen to own and control large sections of the media.
The same culture of impunity protects murderers, looters who steal public land and tax-payers’ money
Fourth, without an independent electoral body, elections will always be manipulated and rigged. Kenya’s IEBC is not independent. Consequently, those that are declared elected and occupy public office are in office illegitimately. Illegitimate leaders cannot deliver services to the people because they know that their power does not emanate from the people. Nor are they accountable to the people who are paying them. In other words, we will only change and improve the quality of our leaders and make them accountable to the people after we have made the IEBC independent. Nonetheless, this will not happen until we remove those who have captured the IEBC from power.
Fifth, the same culture of impunity protects murderers, looters who steal public land and tax-payers’ money that is intended for service delivery while degrading and brutalizing ordinary citizens who protest against the repressive state.
Sixth, tribalism and inequalities which are also by-products of the culture of impunity. It elevates and privileges one or two ethnic elite above others. The inequalities precipitate conflict over scarce resources.
An ill-educated person who also happens to have poor housing, inadequate food and poor health often experiences low self-esteem and feels weak before those in power
Seventh is the dehumanization of fellow Kenyans through artificial poverty, joblessness, homelessness, lack of universal healthcare coverage for everyone and other deprivations.
By the way, Kenya has enough land and other material resources to cater for everyone. However, we have less than one thousand trillionaires and about 5,000 billionaires, most of them criminal plunderers who have stolen the most productive land and scarce resources and rendered more than 80 per cent of Kenyans paupers who are basically living from hand to mouth with no time to think and fight for their rights.
Eighth, those in power have deliberately destroyed the public health and education systems. This has led to the overwhelming majority of Kenyan children growing up without sufficient quality education and in poor health. An ill-educated person who also happens to have poor housing, inadequate food and poor health often experiences low self-esteem and feels weak before those in power.
Finally, those in power have emasculated the press, traditionally independent professionals such as lawyers, clergy and journalists. This problem is compounded by an absence of strong and independent labour movement, student bodies and civic organizations.
The solution is for patriotic Kenyans to realize that nothing will improve until they mobilize and rise up against those in power who are basically destroying the country. Corruption will not end. Election theft will not end. Human rights abuses won’t end until Kenyans free themselves through mass action.
