Jubilee falling short of public expectations

Despite Jubilee coalition’s pre-election pledges of 2013, there is now scientific evidence and confirmation that the Jubilee government has dismally performed since it came to power based on revelations by Ipsos Synovate Ltd’s survey and trend analysis of six key economic and governance variables in the years 2013 and 2014.

 The latest such public opinion poll for the year 2015 shows that most Kenyans feel the situation will worsen, with 49 per cent of respondents citing corruption, followed by cost of living (47 per cent), political climate (46 per cent), employment opportunities (44 per cent), economic conditions (44 per cent) and security (43 per cent).

According to Ipsos, in 2013 when Kenyans were asked about their expectations regarding each of the six specified issues for the then coming year 2014, a lesser percentage thought things would be worse in each category compared to the responses given when a similar question was posed in December 2014 for the then coming year 2015. This in effect reflects diminishing public confidence in Jubilee government’s capacity to fulfill its pre and post-election promises to deliver services to the people of Kenya.

In fact, the findings present a grim and bleak future for Kenya and Kenyans. Importantly, the revelations sharply contradict the usual specious arguments maintained by the Jubilee leadership to the effect that the government is delivering on its pre-poll pledges. Indeed, it is instructive and significant to note that the Ipsos polls and trend analysis are in fact largely consistent with the following realities on the ground:

First, corruption is noticeably entrenched in the public sector as exhibited in the mismanagement and wastage of public funds and resources contrary to the applicable laws of the Country. The periodical reports of the Auditor General, Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) and EACC have all presented incriminating evidence against serving public officers and institutions. The recent cases in this regard are the police recruitment scandal, Karen land saga, coast land issues, the laptop project, the Standard Gauge Railways, etc. .

Second, the cost of living for most Kenyans is now beyond reach. The country is experiencing runaway inflation. The Kenyan shilling is invariably falling in value against the dollar. Most Kenyans live below half dollar a day, in fact, way below the poverty line. Basic commodities such as food items and medical supplies are unaffordable. They have become the preserve of the corrupt lords of impunity.

Third, the political climate has continued to steadily worsen — apparently in tandem with the same state of affairs in some of Kenya’s neighbouring countries; which the Jubilee government has unilaterally formed questionable pacts with such as Coalition of the Willing (CoW) and the East African Standby Force. There is now increased political intolerance (no dialogue with the opposition), administrative and financial impropriety, exclusivity and tribalism in public service recruitment, militarisation of the state, restrictions on the activities of the civil society, muzzling of the media and enactment of repressive laws. Such practices are the norm in Kenya’s chaotic and dictatorial neighboring countries like Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Ethiopia, yet this is what the Jubilee Government has now chosen to benchmark our beloved country with.

Fourth, employment opportunities have continued to shrink, especially for the youth and graduates from communities perceived to be politically hostile to the Jubilee government, who without any regret based on inalienable rights granted by the Constitution, happen to form the majority of the total population in the country.

Fifth, economic conditions continue to worsen due to corruption and insecurity with a heavy toll on vulnerable groups and marginalised communities. Tourism is at its lowest ebb due to insecurity. Foreign investors are not coming forth for the same reasons.

Sixth, rampant insecurity is engulfing the country. This has been aggravated by internal political divisions and intolerance, ethnicity, religious profiling, repressive laws and militarisation of the state.

There is little doubt that with the recent enactment of the Security Laws (Amendment) Act, 2014, Kenyans are likely to face enhanced human rights abuses from law enforcement agencies . It is my humble submission that the President and his Deputy cannot be more popular than the Government at the helm of which they sit since their own performance rating is a function of the performance of that same Government. By extension, Kenyans have through the Ipsos Poll passed a vote of no-confidence in the Jubilee administration.