GIFTING THE RICH TO BE RICHER OR SOLVING GENZEES CRISIS? Kenya Vets the Rich and Political Mighty
Prof. Dr.Halimu Shauri Consultant Sociologist & Dean School of Humanities and Social Sciences PWANI UNIVERSITY (Photo/ Couryesy)
By Prof. Dr.Halimu Shauri
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The vetting we have been waiting for is over, done and dusted. The events to the dissolution of the previous cabinet are still clear in our minds and souls.
The agony, pain and destruction to property and loss of lives is still vivid in our eyes, hearts, and imaginations. The challenges raised by GenZees about the government are still hanging.
The President’s speech as to how he was going to solve the crisis still rings in our ears and minds. From a fire brand to embracing national dialogue, which has not been actualized yet.
The broad-based government is near being in place, two steps remain, parliamentary approval and swearing in.
How broad is the new broad government? I leave it to you the reader to judge. Mine is to focus on what GenZees had raised as some of the issues and whether the presumed new broad based government addresses effectively the issues raised by the civilised demonstrators.
In their demands, GenZees wanted to see new faces in the cabinet. Faces dotted with professionalism and performance. Faces that have the technical know-how of their nominated dockets.
The GenZees criteria to me was clear cut. People with the requisite professional training and expertise to run their dockets.
Whether this criterion is being met by the new broad-based government I leave it to you to decide.
The demonstrators also wanted to see people in the new broad-based government bearing a true reflection of Chapter Six of the Constitution 2010, that speaks on integrity. They envisioned a new Cabinet that has faces that epitomise high levels of ethics and integrity.
Faces that have no iota of mentions or smear of the demon corruption. Looking at the paraded new broad-based government, one sees a billionaire and tens of serious millionaires.
How the nominees obtained these colossal sums of money, some in short stint in public office, was not a subject of follow up questions or validation by the vetting panel.
Apparently, it is clear now that to be a cabinet secretary in the new broad-based government, you had to be rich and not technically qualified or experienced to help the country leap forward.
They say money follows money and hence the rich must be made richer and the poor, though competent and experienced must remain poor.
Whether this was a criterion of what the Genzees were asking for is something I leave it to you to judge. Mine is to lay the facts bare as a professional sociologist to help in advising or decision making.
The GenZees were clear in sum that they needed to see good leadership and good governance.
They were zealous to bring a very professional government with the ability and capacity to transform Kenya from the shackles of looting, opulence, arrogance, impunity, corruption and outright theft of public resources and not a display of who is who from which community and how much they are worth.
Whether this will solve the rage and anger of the tribeless, leaderless and party-less GenZees is something we are watching to see as Afro-Cinema continues to unfold.
Apparently, a replica of independence short-change seems to be happening.
The Mau Mau fighters fought the colonialists for a broad enjoyment of our wealth together as well as our independence and freedom.
Alas! A few elites grabbed the opportunity and made sure that only a minority will enjoy the wealth and real freedom at the expense of the majority.
The Mau Mau fighters were pushed to the bush and the elites’ occupied positions of power and made themselves super wealthy.
Similarly, GenZees fought and secured a semblance of freedom but the politically who is who have taken advantage and are taking over, akin to independence times.
This is a clear law of the jungle where the lion chases, fights and subdued the prey and the hyenas come to chase the lion and feast the prey.
I rest my case and leave you with a role to decide, whether we are on the right track or still going astray or probably we deliberately left the track long time ago.
