Why Kenyan electorate must crack the whip in 2017

On March 4, 2013, Kenyans went to the polls with a lot of optimism that the decision they would make by casting their ballots would transform their lives.

Among the critical issues they wanted addressed were inequitable distribution of resources, inadequacies in health care services provision, unemployment- especially among the youth and corruption.

The 2010 constitution came with the devolved units or counties.

Kenyans were promised that devolution would spread development at the grassroots, as opposed to when financial resources were solely managed and controlled by the central government.

Devolution, was also to create employment to the jobless at the remotest parts of the country.

The idea of coming up with devolved units, methinks, was long overdue. Indeed change has been witnessed- in infrastructure development such as roads and provision of clean water for households.

The youth, women and persons with disabilities have also benefited greatly through their self-help groups funded by some county governments. They have been able to- through income generating activities such as dairy farming- to earn a living and revamp their living standards.

It is clearly with no doubt that if taken seriously, devolution will see Kenyans reap big though development projects.

However, some county government officials have been accused of misappropriating taxpayers’money, by diverting funds meant for development projects to their pockets.

Former President Mwai Kibaki lifts the 2010 Constitution during its promulgation
PHOTO/COURTESY.

Despite county governors claiming that the national government on several occasions delayed to disburse funds to counties, shocking reports by the Auditor General Edward Ouko revealed that the common mwananchi was losing a lot of money to corruption.

It is quite unfortunate that some county leaders have engaged in corruption since they ascended to power instead of serving those who bestowed the mandate to them.

One of the major highlights of the year 2015 was when reports emerged that the Bungoma County government spent over Sh1 million to purchase 10 wheelbarrows- each costing about Sh109, 000.

Up to date, no one has been brought to the fore and prosecuted in relation to the infamous saga. This speaks volumes on how the government is non-committal to make graft a thing of the past.

In counties such as Homa Bay, Nyamira and Kisii, Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) swindled public funds by claiming that they were in ‘some seminars’- where they claimed millions of shillings each in allowances for seminars they never attended after all, according to the Auditor General’s report.

Also, some luxurious expenditures were made by county officials in the 2014/2015 fiscal year with no documents to back them up.

One of the loud promises that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto made when they assumed office after the disputed 2013 general election was to eliminate corruption and to bring to book those found guilty of the same.

Several former Cabinet Secretaries- among them Charity Ngilu (Lands), Michael Kamau (Transport), Felix Koskei (Agriculture) and Kazungu Kambi (Labour), Anne Waiguru (Devolution) have since faced graft allegations and were investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

As customary, none of the accused has become a casualty of the wheels of justice.

In August 2017, the electorate will again make decisions at the ballot as demanded by the constitution to democratically elect MCAs, MPs, Senators, Women Representatives, Governors, the President and his deputy.

It is quite unfortunate that the electorate in the previous elections have voted along ethnic lines. This has always created tension and conflicts that lead to loss of lives of supporters of aspirants, especially those gunning for the country’s top post, president.

The 2007/2008 post-election violence is a good historic example of tribal conflicts that led to loss of over 1,000 lives and displacement of millions of people.

This is what has led to inequitable distribution of resources, such as construction of roads, given that roads function is currently not devolved fully.

Appointments to top state jobs have also been determined by political affiliations, loyalty and tribe origins. These are some of the things that the electorate must put to an end to when they go to the ballot to vote in their leaders.

Kenyans must shun bribery by aspirants and elect leaders who they believe can transform the country for the better, and advantage to future generations.

Kenyans must rise against negative ethnicity and avoid being divided along tribal lines by politicians during election campaigns and elect leaders based on what they have on the table in terms of development agenda and ideologies.

Kenyans must shun the culture of ‘I cannot vote for Uhuru, Raila, Ruto or Mudavadi because he does not belong to my tribe’.

They must crack the whip come 2017 elections on corrupt legislators, county officials and top state officers so that we can have a better country where the common wananchi will benefit from the fruits of devolution.