As the August 9 elections approach, we must reflect on the state of the nation and the challenges facing our future. But why do citizens vote? To have a better, greater Kenya through democratic, meritocratic governance and national moral values.
Democracy is desirable in itself. This simply means we face two fundamental issues: The matter of legitimacy in the sense that those in leadership have to govern with broad consent of the people and should have technical competencies to find solutions to challenges now and in future. Solution-centric management is the demand of the moment.
However, the expression of pessimism by the proverbial man in the street, is worrying. Most times where people gather, one hears the lamentations, “Kenya yetu inaelekea wapi? Gharama ya maisha inatisha sana: Our Kenya, where is it heading? The cost of living is frightening.”
The challenges facing Kenyans are frequently highlighted in screaming newspaper headlines: “Pain as cost of maize flour rises; State of grand wastages; Nairobians hit with matatu fare hikes as cost of living skyrockets; Senate increases national debt ceiling to Sh10 trillion; Money, food, and peace: What this election is about; broke universities lose Sh9 billion in budget cuts; 4 in ten Kenyans unable to pay rent.”
These frightening moments demand the best of us to step forward and lead the country to prosperity. If we act as a wise nation, and engage in Singapore’s formula for success, “moving from Third world to First world,” Kenya will reach its goals of 2030 sooner than later. We believe, we vote and do, therefore we are.
In physics, Newton’s Third law states that, “For every action-force in nature, there is an equal and opposite reactions.” While national development policy is different from physics, the principles of reason and logic are useful.
It’s easier for a meritocratic cultured society to overcome the paradox of what has been described as the “four curses of Africa’s development”. ‘The resources scarcity curse, the hardship lands remoteness curse, technical backwardness curse and leadership gap mal-administration curse.’
Kenyans want to attract the best and brightest people to the legislature and the public service. Chapter 13 of our Constitution is dedicated to Kenya’s values and principles of public service where “merit becomes basis of appointments and promotions”.
National institutions like the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Kenya School of Government (KSG) were established mainly to sustain and give life to the principles. Besides the culture of meritocracy, there is need to enhance our general moral values, work and duty-based ethics.
The writer is a strategic consultant
