In Kenya we believe in fairy tales, even when public coffers are plundered

London: A few weeks ago, a friend involved in researching possible cancer treatment asked me to join a panel where he was presenting a paper on his findings. The in-house peer review panel was the first feedback forum for him.  After what I thought was a decent presentation, I watched as colleagues from his field started to tear apart some of this research arguments. Scientists have a simple rule that dictates that one should go for the most reasonable explanation.  This is to say, for example; if I left a bowl of milk outside overnight. In the morning, the milk was gone. Clearly my yard was visited by fairies. Political scientist mark the ‘scientist’ not ‘analysists’ call this concept, least plausible hypothesis.  

Stories of sleaze are almost suffocating us; spin masters have worked overtime to distract the public from the issue of the day.  You can almost count it a win, by the mere fact; somehow there is a character in the crosshairs. Well, for anything substantive to happen to them is another issue altogether.

For as long as I can recall every single politician caught pants down in matters corruption has a few tricks up there sleeve.  First, deny, deny, deny. A few days to the election, a gentleman from the office of the presidents withdrew hundreds of millions of shillings, during this period also, billions of shillings about 2.9 billion was simply carted away with trucks. Government officials, to this day are at pains to explain the disappearance of these huge sum of money. What they have all done every well, is having many press reports ‘denying’ these reports. So far it has worked.

What has however, excited press reports, is the alleged under hand dealings at the Parliamentary Account Committee (PAC). It’s easy to see how this sensational story has captured imagination. Mp’s ostensibly discussing auditor’s general report that points to these mahoosive leaks in the office of the president; hatch a plot to strike out names of the ‘denying’ officials from the report.  The desired result is no one is left holding the baby. The public is looted of billions; some of the ‘honourable’ members of that committee get a portion of their hustle all in a day’s work. However, this plan does not materialize, one thing leads to the other and in full blown mudslinging game the public is treated to ‘he said; she said’ affair.

Truth is, a house is on fire, rats and roaches are making a last minute dash to escape, and we are focusing and cheering on every rat that makes outs half burnt while ignoring the house being reduced to ashes. 

Many politicians would want us to believe many things. If you asked any of the three hundred plus MPs we have they will tell you how they can replace the pope, having satisfied all entry requirement to priesthood.

 However, the most parsimonious explanation to our current state is that there is massive looting of state resources going on. We are being told of the presence of some fairies truth is neighbourhood cats are gobbling up our milk.  

James Smart is currently pursuing Masters in International Journalism at Cardiff University. www.jamessmart.co.ke