This archive report was first published on 11 August 2019.
Published on August 11, 2019, by Makau Mutua, a SUNY Distinguished Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School and Chair of KHRC.
Public shame is a vital component of any functioning society. It serves as a deterrent against wrongdoing and encourages individuals to take responsibility for their actions. However, in Kenya, the concept of public shame has all but vanished.
Historically, public shame was a powerful tool used to maintain social order. In ancient Japan, for example, the practice of harakiri, or ritual suicide, was used as a means of atoning for public shame. Similarly, in some African cultures, individuals who had brought shame upon their families would often take their own lives as a form of punishment.
However, in modern Kenya, public shame has become a rare occurrence. Instead, leaders who are accused of corruption or other wrongdoing often smile and mockingly deny any wrongdoing, as seen in the case of Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his wife Susan Wangari.
So, how did Kenya's leaders lose touch with the concept of public shame? One possible answer lies in the country's universities, which have been accused of awarding fake degrees. This has led to a culture of corruption and impunity, where individuals feel that they can get away with anything.
To recapture public shame in Kenya, we need to take a hard look at our institutions and hold those in power accountable for their actions. This includes sanctioning offenders without pity, refusing corrupt leaders audience, and looking in the mirror to confront our own complicity in the problem.
