Change of Mind; what is known Vs possible outcome

Civic Rights activists protest during the the demos. Photos by Alale

By Diana Lutta

The past weeks have been graced by venomous reactions from the public and civil society over the hamper Members of parliament  wish to take home as salary. It beats logic when Kenyans are tempted to believe that credible laws may at the least be passed by a grappling parliament.

We have around 14 independent commissions trying to fulfill their mandate in line with our August 27th , 2010 promulgated constitution which was delivered in a historic fashion. But in as much as each of their heads is trying to put a show for Kenyans to imagine that they are relevantly functional, there is no fundamental change likely to be witnessed in the near future. This is evident right from the highest rank of leadership.

Take for example the president-head of a sovereign democratic state who must seek non exploitation of tax payers. How then do you explain his deputy’s exorbitant Africa tour?  The Chief Justice-head of the judicial service commission and who was at the time of his appointment a darling of reform and justice. How then do you explain the controversial verdict of the Supreme Court over a petition filed against the outcome of the just concluded disputed general elections?   The inspector general –who exercises command over police service commission and who many Kenyans think is heaven sent and who swore to delve into the matter of police reforms.

How then do you explain the accelerating level of insecurity with police killings? The TJRC chair whose mandate is to see that reconciliation is brought forth between the victims of atrocities and the perpetrators and has had people waiting for years for his final word. How then do you explain the many loops in the submitted final report by the TJRC?

These are just but a few of the many situations aimed at blinding Kenyans to what is really happening. What Sarah Serem is trying to do is to lead and take actions by the book and foregoing the spirit of Kenyans which is being displayed by our legislators. It is therefore possible that our MPs will not do anything productive during their prescribed term unless they settle their grievances by themselves to their own fill.

Lutta works with HESED-Africa and a political science student at the University of Nairobi.

First published in May 2013.