Like Sakaja, we should have repentant hearts

To err is human. The Covid-19 pandemic has made this very clear. Boris Johnson was in error in his initial reaction to the disease. Little did he know that the disease would soon put him in the ICU and rectify his thinking in time to save a few Britons' lives. 

In Africa, we may have had a similar problem in a neighbouring country, where it is rumoured that a head of State who decided to campaign instead of social distancing died from the disease. 

Similarly here at home, Senator Jonhson Sakaja apologised and pleaded guilty to breaking curfew regulations. That is the single most significant act an individual politician has done since the handshake. 

I cannot, for the life of me, remember any one time when a Kenyan leader apologised or resigned for anything. The online teacher is clearly unrepentant for his actions. 

The political answer to mistakes is the lyrics to Shaggy's song; It wasn’t me. Power and money in our country seem to insulate the powerful from remorse or consequences of their actions. 

Sakaja is, therefore, a pacesetter for admitting his wrong, and indeed doing the same to a judge. On the other side of the divide, prayers were held for God to save another MP who has recently been found guilty of defrauding the masses of billions. I wondered to myself what God they think would listen to them. 

Stolen money

This is because the Jesus I know will require the fraudulent tax collector to return the money stolen before he could be forgiven. The modern idea that forgiveness without restitution is possible is a joke and an affront to the moral and just God they pretend to pray to. 

This is because forgiveness can’t be possible while you are still pulling the rope on the neck of your victims.

In other words, you cannot be impoverishing millions and at the same time asking God to forgive you. You must stop, repair damage and then build and sacrifice on the altar. This is why Jesus made it clear that you should leave your sacrifice and go be reconciled to your brother.

We should learn to make amends and not hide behind religion and surface piety. For we make the adage true that we are just white-washed tombs. Other than religion, many hide behind connections with the police and bribery. This is why the partial lockdown measures failed.

There were too many of us willing to give and receive bribes to avoid curfew or travel restrictions. This is one of the biggest reasons why 250 of us have died of Covid-19 and many more will follow. 

Speaking of deaths. Three people died after a curfew breaking drunk driver ploughed into their motorcycle in Kibos. The claims that money and power have been used to subvert justice are all too familiar.

The Kibos sugar firm was the site of a demonstration as motorbike riders sought justice. This allegedly seems to be another case where justice is bent to meet the needs of wealth, power and connections to powerful offices. 

This is why the Chickengate scam led to the arrest and imprisonments in the UK while in Kenya the perpetrators still roam free. You see, the problem is, the Akashas are innocent in Kenya but guilty in the US and before God. 

Kenya has a problem. That problem is in our homes and in our leaders. We never say sorry and we are brazen in our approach to life.

Whether it is a driver who takes the wrong turn and insults you for being in his way, or the politician who grabs an elderly person’s land or a businessman who drives recklessly, we all have the same disease; unrepentant hearts and no self-government. This is why we all need to be like Sakaja.

We need to take time, sit, retrospect and admit our wrongs. God knows it will save us time at the courts and finally bring our nation to heel.

Can you imagine what would happen if all the land grabbers, the corrupt and the money launders admitted to their guilt and returned our property! Isn’t that what would heal our land?

Perhaps as the causes of our pain pray, they should remember that before the land is healed, they should humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways before they pray. Only then will the land be healed! The proud and the wicked cannot pray for healing into our land. That would be a useless prayer. Shalom.

 -The writer is a communications consultant.