This archive report was first published on 7 August 2019.
Kenya's policy-making process has become a source of concern, with the country's leaders seemingly unable to make decisions without sparking controversy.
As Victor Bwire, the Head of Media Development and Strategy at the Media Council of Kenya, notes, the lack of consistency and predictability in policy formulation and pronouncement has become a permanent feature of Kenya's governance.
On August 7, 2019, Bwire wrote in Citizen TV that the haphazard and spur-of-the-moment manner in which the country is dealing with policy matters is worrying, particularly when it comes to national issues such as the Big Four agenda.
While taking an independent position and critical review of government directives is welcome, it raises fundamental questions about consultation and collective responsibility within the executive, both at the national and county levels.
For instance, the recent directive by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on freight goods for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has been met with opposition from various quarters, including the leader of the majority in government, the chief whip, and the leader of the minority.
However, this has left many wondering about the level of consultation or lack thereof that goes on within the executive before such decisions are made.
As Bwire points out, the lack of an official way of communication to the public by government has led to consistent protocol goofs, conflicting information, and inadequate communication within and without government.
Furthermore, the government's voice has been lost, and many times, those working for the government have responded to issues touching on the government through the prism of political parties or individual social media platforms.
As a result, Kenya's development efforts are being mired in the many small mistakes that border on lack of consultations and common approach to issues by those in the executive.
