KENYAN LEADERS SHOULD UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR OFFICES

Integrity is an invaluable virtue, for all leaders, and Kenya should be no different. Integrity is defined as the possession of high moral principles and professional standards. These are the overriding factors of any office in a morally sound society. Whenever a person assumes any office in the land, whether elected or appointed, upholding the integrity and honor of that office should be paramount. But in Kenya, a land where the abnormal seems to be normal, and rightly so as former Harambee Stars head coach, Bernard Lama once said as he left in a huff following a rather turbulent spell at the helm of the national team. Integrity does not appear to be that important, at least as the Kenyan politicians have showed.

Whenever a scandal is unearthed in any of the government ministries, integrity seems to take the back foot as the minister under siege, galvanizes all the energies to defend him or herself. Scandals in the past have shown this; the whole country is treated to unending drama as accusations and counter-accusations fill our media. Those responsible even revert to their tribal and ethnic cocoons, as they set out to create the misconception that their community is being fought and undermined politically. The constituencies in the rural Kenya offer the best launch-pad of these meaningless and misleading defense tactics.

This is a stark contrast to the West, where the leader responsible, voluntarily agrees to step- aside or even resign from office. This is what defines morally upright and responsible leadership; living up to the very words of one’s oath into office. Ministers and even sitting presidents do resign, whenever an issue that brings their occupation of the concerned office into disrepute, arises. It has even happened on African soil; when former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, resigned in September 2008, after he was asked by his party, The African National congress, to do so. His resignation was prompted by allegations that he had used the country’s law-enforcement system to undermine the chances of the current president, Jacob Zuma, of succeeding him then. It is important to note that Mbeki, in his resignation speech, live to the country, was not bitter but rather thankful to the people for giving him the chance to lead them. He never took that as an opportunity to pass on the buck, instead he honorably resigned.  Former American president, Richard Nixon had set the precedent in 1974, after he resigned following the infamous Watergate Scandal. Former IMF director Dominique Strauss Khan also resigned in 2011, following a sex scandal that even ensured his presidential ambitions in his mother- country, France went up in smoke. These are some of the many leaders, occupants of some of the highest offices on the globe, to have resigned from office, following issues that brought disrepute to the very offices that they occupied. This is the true meaning of upholding the honor and integrity of one’s office and the responsibility bestowed upon him by the people. Sadly, most of our Kenyan leaders never seem to get this.

Fast forward to Kenya, a country where honorable resignations are unheard of and probably will never be. A  country which has been plagued by scandals; from the Grand Regency, the cemetery land in Athi river,  the Kazi Kwa Vijana saga, the maize scandal, the free primary education funds saga to the most recent, the National Hospital Insurance Funds, which has Prof. Anyang Nyong’o in the spotlight. All these have come and gone, yet prosecution for those responsible never saw the light of day.  The concerned ministers ferociously fought all these off.  Many came out breathing fire, flanked by their political sycophants and tribes-men. One of the most infamous was Kipipiri legislator, Amos Kimunya, the then Finance minister when the Grand Regency saga came up. Addressing his constituents in Kipipiri, he fiercely reiterated that he would rather die than resign. Sadly, a censure motion moved against him by Ikholomani mp, Bonny Khalwalwe got the better of him, and he was forced from office.  This is just an example of what happens in Kenya whenever a minister is implicated in a scandal. How sad! The National health Insurance Funds, NHIF saga is gaining momentum day after day, and the country is waiting in baited breath to see how the concerned minister, Prof Nyong’o will respond. Corruption and misappropriation of funds are the main undoing of most of our leaders.

Kenyan leaders should realize that with power comes responsibility. Whenever a scandal is unearthed, accusations and counter-accusations, coupled with empty rhetoric are not the way to go. Rather, owning up and taking responsibility albeit to allow for due investigations not only satisfies the citizens, but also ensures that the honor and dignity of that office, alongside the respect that they demand as leaders.

As a country, we are yearning to see the first ever leader, whether appointed or elected into office, do the honorable thing and resign from office whenever caught in these shaming scandals that have sadly become the norm in our country. It is understandable to the human nature that power is sweet and the trappings that come with it are equally alluring. There still exists the forbidden fruit that enticed Eve, albeit in a different form. However, leaders should learn that we never chose them to plunder our hard-earned cash. It is morally wrong to rob from the public coffers and worse still, vehemently deny it and ferociously fight to an end that is in most cases, too bitter to fathom.

The character of our leaders, those in office and even the ones we will vote into office, will always determine how and to what extent the integrity and honor of their offices is upheld. It is a shame that we are all dreaming of an ambitious Vision 2030, yet most of the leaders who claim to have the ability of delivering it, have all these dirt in their hands. Does this mean that ambition has clouded the Kenyan people, such that the good morals of leadership are almost becoming extinct? We cross our fingers that this will not be the case, because it so turns out to be, ours will be a morally dead society.

Mahatma Gandhi taught us to always aim at complete harmony of thought, word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and all will be well. This statement should be read aloud for our Kenyan leaders to hear and heed.