These Are the Last Days of Impunity

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

DR George Outa

23 June 2011

opinion

The other day I delivered the annual Maryknoll Institute of African Studies lecture at Tangaza College for the third time. The institute is one of ‘elite’ higher learning international centres affiliated to the Catholic faith and home to postgraduate programmes that target an interesting mix of ages and professions. Prof Michael Kirwen and team have always requested me to provide perspectives on the ever-changing social and political realities in Kenya.

It was thus during the question and answer time that one foreign student, quite clearly from within the wider African region, sought to know if I could offer some reassurance that Kenya was going to remain safe enough for him to settle in for the foreseeable future. He probably had witnessed the heart-wrenching wars and senseless murders of civilians that are common in many African countries.

It probably came from nowhere, but I found myself effortlessly blurting out some things that must give you hope about the future destiny of our very promising nation. Thus, I asserted that our recent constitutional gains far outweigh what we lost therein, and that, above all, we seem to be on to a system that defies any single individual’s political fiat and evil machinations.

“We have a system here now” I said “which no longer deifies individual politicians…and in my whole life, this is the single biggest basis for hope for the country,” I said.

To back it up, I singled out the national mood and stubbornness that saw a rare retreat on two earlier hardline stances, one involving the appointment of Justice Ringera to continue heading the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission, and the recent stand-off on the appointment of a new Chief Justice.

It is difficult to contemplate what some diehards of the previous regime make of these developments, but I assured my questioner that such changes in Kenya have come at a costly price. They are the new signs of a nation-state that will gradually be built on real political issues; institutions, greater respect for democracy and the rule of law. Citizens are clawing power from the clutches of a previously all-powerful political elite.

But the heart of the matter has to do with more telling recent developments. Quite clearly, our hardened impunity merchants are becoming an endangered species, despite their always fighting back. A close scrutiny of the political landscape tells you that you now hardly find a politician willing to ‘go to town’ (aka Sharif Nassir or Kariuki Chotara) on the basis of blatant, malevolent lies. To be honest, one or two still persist in that league of old reckless, vindictive talk against perceived opponents. But on the whole, even our more connived ones are definitely reclining on their seats with a new sense of fear. You can be hit from anywhere, especially when the International Criminal Court continues to confirm that criminal cases against previously powerful individuals is not mere tokenism. Muammar Gaddafi appears set to be the next big catch for the ICC, ad nauseam.

Again, just judging from the international arrest warrants recently issued for possible money laundering crimes possibly committed by Kenyans more than ten years ago, we had all better be forewarned. The ink had not dried and we saw with some trepidation, the wheel circling around previously untouchable and extremely dangerous world of possible drug ‘kingpins’. Everywhere the routes are being blocked, slowly but surely. Those who have made riches out of ruined lives of young people could be brought to justice; and with Job in the good book, all life could be sheer vanity.

As I have stated before, it is still a marvel to many that we have a judicial system where previous electoral votes are kept and painstakingly presented during an election petition. The future of Kenya glimpses with much hope in the horizons. In a short while it will not be possible to covet public office merely as an avenue for corruption and easy wealth. The one lesson from the Tribe Inc that its merchants gloss over much to their detriment is that inter-tribal tensions and petty jealousies can be far more vicious and ruinous. It may soon be completely unnecessary to hate people, or incite followers to kill others merely because they are not your tribal grouping, without risking a call to answer.

The last dragon to be slain in Kenya is what Koigi Wamwere baptised as “negative ethnicity”. When this form of crude and false consciousness is finally conquered (hopefully in my own lifetime), I’ll have assured my foreign student, that there are ‘no buts’ here…Kenya is a ‘settlable’ haven.

Dr Outa is Communications Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister. His views expressed are however personal.

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