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Kenya’s hope lies with strong
and credible institutions
Publication Date: 1/28/2008
I attended the Law Society of Kenya’s “Way out...” symposium at
Hilton recently because a way out is what all, if not most of us,
are seeking out of the current crisis.
A raft of recommendations came through. Dr David Ndii proposed a
transition government with a limited mandate. He is among those
who believe, and rightly so, that the mess we are in is partly due
to failure of our institutions.
One institution that comes to mind alongside the Judiciary is the
Electoral Commission of Kenya.
My peace message can only be that we craft institutions and
structures that can stand the turbulence of both stress and time.
For that to be possible, they must be anchored and rooted on
credible ideals and timeless philosophies.
John Adams the second American President is reported to have
prayed that “May none, but honest and wise men ever live under
this roof” on entering White House. But he must have been clearly
aware of the myriad instruments of stable government that any
American president has at his disposal.
Back at home, Kenya is also home to remarkable and world renowned
institutions. I have in mind Starehe Boys Centre and Equity Bank.
In my study of these institutions, common threads run through, but
the most important one is that from the word go, they were started
by people who knew what they wanted and had the stamina to live
that dream, no matter the odds.
Equity Bank was started in 1984 to take financial services to the
poor but economically active segment of Central Kenya. At equity
there is no slogan like — The bank is greater than all of us.
Starehe for its part practices a philosophy called the pupil
centred approached. In this, all efforts are geared towards the
wellbeing and happiness of the pupils and the teachers and others
come later in whatever order.
Starehe has had its difficulties, problems and failures over the
years. But amidst all these, its boys leave the school imbued with
a sense of patriotism unrivalled by any institution I have studied
or read of.
A study of the Starehe democracy are lessons that go beyond school
management and must be imperative to our public policy officials.
We have to find something about Kenya for which we have an undying
affinity. We must be ready to rise up for our country, not with
arms or in subdued surrender, but in the belief of its vast beauty
and enough resources that it has for all of us.
Perhaps it is time we revived Alfred Mutua’s ‘Najivunia kuwa
mkenya.’ Not to recite it, of course, but to unravel why it came a
cropper and see whether we can craft brand Kenya.
I must once more describe Kisumu as the Barcelona of Kenya as I
have always done for anyone who cared to listen. Right now it is
worse than Basra and the Baghdad Green Zone.
In time, I must again describe my home town of Yala as the “cradle
of indigenous intelligentsia” not just as a centre where the
market has been flattened by angry demonstrators.
If the intervention of Hosni Mubarak, Graca Machel, Palestinian
Hamas, Kofi Annan, just anybody can bring a quick cessation of
hostilities, I’m ready for it.
GEORGE MARENYA, Nairobi.
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