Like a math class on a hot afternoon, so is President Uhuru’s hard-push of the Building Bridges Initiative popularly known as the BBI. For starters, if a good thing needs to be forced, bewilderment is the result and the recipients become ambivalent and most likely bound to reject it. This is why chaos has ensued.
The general public's question since BBI's inception alongside its pugnacious promotion is, if BBI is a noble deal, why the hard sell? Why is there so much impatience on the part of its promoters? If BBI is of great importance to the country, 2022 succession politics should not influence its campaign nor its significance.
The underlying giant
There is something else in the working. There is another sleazy character that has grandfathered in, an underlying and injurious character responsible for why this country is always in a mess during elections and fails miserably when it comes to the enforcement of electoral policy and promotion of even worthy ideas like let's say, the BBI. And we are about to reveal. But first, let's see what's going on.
Campaign mode and everything else
Currently, everyone is on heat. Elections are nearing and as usual, this period renders a crazy hype for politicians and absolute madness for Kenyans. And the Building Bridges Initiative is absurdly served at the wrong time and probably for wrong reasons.
Kenyans are in a 2022 campaign rock-and-roll mode. Confusion about who is going to be the president and from which ethnicity or dynasty or region or whatever prescription laid down this time round is beclouding the relevancy of the BBI if there is any.
It is worth noting that there are some parts of the BBI that can offer solutions to the problems that have abraded the integrity and stability of this nation. Some of these proposals are found in Chapter Six of the BBI on how to deal with corruption and replenish the economy. Even though, it grossly omits the issue of public debt and government incompetence in the appropriation of debt.
But the makers of the broth have spoiled the broth by inducing feelings of anxiety and worry in Kenyans by mixing the 2022 election debacle with the BBI proposal and the stakes involved in the ensuing succession politics.
The bad timing
One of the other keys to the disgust and the sheer aversion to the BBI, apart from bad-timing, is the President’s angst for its victory. He made BBI a personal legacy instead of making it a national potency. His selfishness to find political legacy somehow demeaned and obscured the real eminence of the BBI.
Also, his handshake with his compadre, former Prime Minister Mr. Raila, and the confusion about who he is going to choose as his successor has inadvertently suggested an illicit motive that made the entire BBI proposal sound like a premeditated strategy to shape the 2022 succession politics. It is within these parameters that his Deputy reluctantly seceded and turned his back to Jubilee without a flinch which has caused even more ruckus than had already existed. Talk about a handshake and a heartbreak.
Regarding the timing, I am not even going to talk about the Covid-19 dilemma and the “Covid-19-millionaires” scum, all that is ploddingly eating out the public’s patience with Uhuru’s administration.
Amongst the goals of the BBI as it is explained in Chapter Six, Shared Prosperity is to unite all Kenyans by etching patriotism, to end electoral and ethnicity wars by fostering inclusivity, diversity, and economic prosperity.
Politics in play
But why does it seem like we are already in a war zone? How ironic that a document that is supposed to bring unity is the very document that is tearing us apart?
The dichotomy of what the BBI movement is supposed to do versus what it is doing reflects a conflicting perception of the genuineness on the part of its master architects. Is it succession politics, the pursuit of legacy, or the promotion of an ideal document?
With the dirty politics of division in play fomented by our rather amoral politicians, it's only wise to say that BBI is a dead-end regardless of whether the document is good or bad. It's a dead-end because Kenyans are tired of political strife amid the current economical turmoil caused by the pandemic. Not only that but the perpetual divisive politics, boundless corruption that results and mistrust of all government institutions and the country as a whole.
Determining the sides
Divisive politics that has a significant emphasis on ethnicity, regions, and region dominance like in the case of Mt. Kenya as if it is the only region that makes or breaks Kenya, die-hard power hunt are all signs of corrosive politics. It is this giant in the room that I want to reveal. The dirty and characterless politics that have borne a country with no backbone filled with politicians and citizens with no values.
It is a lack of national character. Our nation lacks an honored and revered code of conduct that controls the consciousness and the behavior of our politicians and citizens.
A country that its leaders, businessmen, and technocrats dubbed "cartels" and even judiciary all who blatantly violate the Constitution without redress, and a media that sometimes are blind to reality and that sacrifices truth for an ad, scores zero in character.
That is why, without remorse, any behavior can be tolerated in this country. We have perpetuated corruption and impunity for that same reason.
The BBI is supposed to be bipartisan but on the contrary, it is being misused to determine the sides. Not the good and the bad side of the proposal, but the side of who, and who is not is going to be elected president.
It most certainly turns out that the document is not the one with the ax of dividing Kenyans, but, again, politicians playing as the promoters and antagonists are the ones in the very work of dividing Kenyans and as usual, no one is enforcing the policies.
Rotten character
The conduct of politicians during campaigns goes unchecked and unpunished. Battery and insults of electoral staff, like in the case of Echesa, and the notorious ongoing utilization of paid goons to disrupt political campaigns are all the kinds of crimes committed by government officials and are all hoodwinked; sealing the fate of a characterless nation.
A nation that is willingly incapable of enforcing its own Constitutional authority. It's also worthy to note that a nation is as weak as its Constitution enforcement or the negligence thereof.
People supposed to educate Kenyan on the proposed changes to the Constitution are busy using it to the hilt as a ticket to power. They can’t help it. The president is doing it too.
It is what we do as a nation. Supposedly a rotten character of politicizing even the noble ideals for the sake of attaining power. No politician does anything with a pure motive of progress. There is always a hidden agenda motivated by selfishness.
Selfishness is service to self at the neglect of a country. Thus stealing public wealth is so immense in our country. There are no leaders. Only selfish, power-hungry incompetent men and women masquerading as leaders.
Picking Ethnic Sides, Dirty Politics.
But now, look, it goes without saying that Kenyans have already picked their respective sides. The political mantle this time around is not banana or orange but the BBI or anti-BBI whether read or not. The race is set, the captains are ready. Ready for 2022 battle of wits. Obsequious voters are already in place, in formations behind their ethnic lords ready to throw stones at the other side.
Other Kenyans who somehow have not chosen sides are confused on which ethnic side to support. Once their snollygoster tribal lords figure out where to pitch the tent, they will not be confused anymore. This is what it has come down to. Cantankerous politics. Ethnic cacophonies. Again.
A document that probably (even though not in its entirety), could have ameliorated some problematic issues of corruption and economy, has now been dogged in usual lackluster and rudderless politics.
The BBI is no balm to this malady whether passed or otherwise. Divisions and ethnic hatred will continue to lead the way in the political landscape of Kenya. Way to another electoral stand-off and violence.
Sardonically, BBI and the handshake gesture that is supposed to build bridges, are already burning the bridges. All bridges. This is because politicians have not changed unless there are elaborate and radical changes in the country's values and principles.
The work of building character
Picking one ethnic leader from one ethnicity – shaking hands – and then creating a document of consolation does not look like it is going to cut the deal. It is evident that there is more hard work to be done and BBI alone cannot undercut the real work that this country so long has abandoned. The work of building a national character by etching in the so-needed value system.
This involves serious and decided political and economic reforms inspired by morality, propagation of endeared citizenry, sacrosanct patriotism within all the arms of the government and in public servanthood, stark defense of the Kenyan Constitution, and the rule of law. All these are the essentials of an enlightened and developed society. Kenya is not lacking these principles for they are all etched in our Constitution, our National Anthem, and our pledge to the Flag.
No government has truly done its work until these pillars of solidarity have been set firmly into the ground and emphatically used as the yardstick to hire and fire the public officers. This is a character trait that we have grossly ignored and forged forward without for fifty years.
This is why our checks and balances have turned into just cheques. We have all heard that “money talks”. Money talks where there are no values and principles that govern and directs the actions of the governing and the governed.
Honest and palpable patriotism
Until politicians are forced to cogitate on honest patriotism, loyalty to the nation, to the flag and to what it represents, to the national anthem and its solemn declarations, a true sense of belonging to a country that has character, there will be no way the philosophy of peace love and unity will ever anchor within the borders of Kenya, with or without the BBI.
While cherishing the ill characters of ethnic divisions, corruption, and utter dishonesty of both the politicians and citizens, it's hard to find economic prosperity and political inclusivity. Instead, we will be dealing election after another with stalemates, violence, and hollow citizenry.
The world knows Kenya as a nation that has a propensity for corruption, bribery, impunity, and violation of the Constitution without reprimand. Sometimes even the most embarrassing character of extrajudicial killings. We as a nation have a character that if an individual person would have, he or she would go to jail for a very long time. We have reached the nadir of our inglorious valueless system.
Africa hankers after the west where the sun sets. It's because it's rotten, where the sun rises. But the west has put in the work to obtain a character.
A case study of patriotism
No politician in the United States will walk scot-free after a gross violation of the United States Constitution. It is their bible. They worship it. They will fight to the hilt, to uphold and to secure it to include the citizens.
Their flag is ubiquitous. Hoisted in front yards and backyards. Found in living rooms and bathrooms and every nook and cranny of all institutions, business parks, malls, and anywhere else a better view prevails.
Everywhere, there is the presence of citizenry, palpable patriotism. Something we know nothing about because no one can worship a country with no values and where citizens have no trust with any government institution!
We must be ready to sacrifice everything to build our nation. The BBI and any other requisites to change the Constitution will today, tomorrow, and forever become Dead on Arrival time-wasting projects if we continue in the current downward spiral of moral neglect.
As the saying goes, “Rome was not built in one day”, there must be patience in the work of building Kenya. We might not be the ones to enjoy the fruits of our labor. We might be the ones to build a nation and foot the bill so that our children's children will enjoy a prosperous nation.
The Mau Mau freedom fighters, and everybody who fought for our independence, the ones who paid the ultimate price so that we could be free at last, did it for us. They did not think their lives were of any regard. But they gave their all in the fight and handed us a nation free of foreign oppression. But it seems we are too selfish to put in the hard work for the sake of future generations of Kenya.
Not too late
Either we put on the gauntlet and sacrifice ourselves into building this country or rob the wealth in selfish pursuits and trash the future generations of Kenyans. That is easy to do. It can be done by simply doing nothing!
But let there be no man in this perfect country that wears equator as its belt, that will say it is too late to form a befitting character.
The star of Kenya will rise when that hard work is done. When the philosophy of peace, love, and unity will not be feigned but believed and practiced by all means. These hard-earned qualities seem far off from our reality, but they are close as a quick gaze at the lines of our Pledge and our Anthem.
The oath of office
ALL politicians and all public servants need to take an oath of office and with a raised hand, repeat these words:
I pledge my loyalty to the [*Constitution] and [to the] Nation of Kenya. My readiness and duty to defend the flag of our Republic. My devotion to the words of our national anthem. My life and strength in the task of our nation's building. In the living spirit embodied in our national motto - Harambee! And perpetuated in the NATIONAL philosophy of peace, love, and unity. So Help Me God.
And in the parliament, before and after the sessions, all legislatures should recite these words of the third stanza of our National Anthem:
“Let all with one accord, In common bond united. Build this our nation together,
And the glory of Kenya. The fruit of our labor. Fill every heart with thanksgiving.” So help Me God. ~The National Anthem (v.3)
When tracts and pamphlets spelled out with these patriotic passages will be spread all around the nation, and a demand of all students to memorize and characterize them and all citizens are shown the importance of embracing our nationality and our national values, then, and only then, this nation will begin to prosper.
A nation with sacred values
We will then pass to the future generation a nation with moral order, prosperity and pride. Kenya will be a shining star amongst the nations of Africa and admiration of the rest of the world.
This may sound futile and somehow unsophisticated, but we do not know the depth this would take us into realizing and embracing our own identity as a nation with a common goal and love to a nation of our own building. That sense of love and pride and belonging.
The solemn understanding that this is the only country that the Almighty gave us and it is our duty to love and to build it as if our life depends on it because it does.
Until then, we will continue to grapple in the dark, gambling with the future, bothered by the notion that one day when we are long gone, peace will be long gone. And our children will be left at the borders of other countries begging for asylum while they left their's burning down to embers.
In all the years that these words will exist in print or other media, whether heeded or not, they will serve as a testimony that, I told you so.