Various commentaries on Kenya's economic and political issues

Abstract

Vol.1 The forgotten catalyst of economic growth By XN Iraki What is Kenya’s greatest concern, apart from the constitution? Some could cite the environment and population growth imbalance. Others would cite crime, joblessness or the decay of family values. I say it is the lack of new ideas. We generate too few ideas and that is why our problems are persistent. Keen observers will note that in the last 50 years we have not made any dramatic leap forward. It is no wonder, therefore, that we are obsessed with politics, the only area where there is action. From independence through multiparty, to the grand coalition and the current yearning for a new constitution which mentions the word research a mere seven times, one thing remains true ideas remain few, and innovation limited. Some observers will lay blame on our brand of politics, saying politics and politicians are our giant dustbins, scapegoats who hold our future at ransom. They cite the robust economic growth recorded from 2002 after the end of the Kanu era as the best evidence that politicians are the problem. But that is just part of the story. Some will also argue that we did not have enough new ideas to deal with the post Kanu era. We still hear the echoes of Kanu, and very few of the top leaders in Kenya can deny they have no ‘kanu blood." Even our Draft Constitution has echoes of Kanuism, with its insistence on powerful institutions and intolerance to the NO views. Could it be that Moi was right when he suggested Kanu would rule for a 100 years? For the sake of progress, let us demystify our public institutions Published on 01/02/2010

Vol. 2 By XN Iraki By crossing the gulf of "mutual incomprehensibility" between the two major political parties and hammering a compromise draft constitution, the Parliam entary Select Committee (PSC) demystified constitution making. Never mind that they regressed to the mean, towards what is familiar to us; a strong presidential system modelled on America and spiced with our own homegrown systems. One would loudly wonder why we needed 20 years to arrive at what is so familiar. It is another matter to speculate why the two parties’ suddenly converged in opinions. Some say it is a gamble, each party hopes it will take the juicy presidential system. Others argue, the parties came to realisation that an alternative system would not hold this diverse country together, after experimenting with the national accord. Other still argue, it was forced by "outsiders". The truth may never be known. Could we use the same approach to demystify the rest of the country’s subsystems so that we can make economic progress? Despite education and religion being around for over a 100 years, this country is still shrouded in mysteries. The average Kenyan is baffled by how our institutions and systems are run, from the State House to schools, hospitals, even churches. Most of our institutions are opaque, and only a few insiders know what happens there. It is no wonder corruption thrives, from the smallest primary school to the biggest parastastals and ministries. Why the mysteries? What can we do about them? Mysteries fill the void left when information is not provided. And we are not very good in providing information, even when it is free.