This archive report was first published on 1 September 2019.
Published on September 1, 2019, by Michael Mugwang'a, a communications consultant based in Nairobi.
The euphoria surrounding the Punguza Mizigo bill, which seeks to amend the Kenyan constitution, is understandable. The promise of change and novelty often excites the masses, suspending reason in the process. However, beneath the catch slogan lies a complex issue that requires careful consideration.
While the bill has some redeeming qualities, such as reducing the burden of governance and infusing fiscal discipline in the management of public resources, it falls short in addressing the country's deeper problems. The initiative by the Third Way Alliance Party has some points that gel well with the afflictions of the country and her people, but it is not a comprehensive solution.
One of the main concerns is that the bill may throw away the good with the bad. Reducing the number of representatives at the National Assembly from 349 to 47 may seem desirable, but it may also lead to a more calculatingly greedy group that could swallow the country in no time.
Furthermore, the bill does not address the form of government the country should adopt, nor does it provide a clear formula for dealing with corruption, the single most vicious enemy of national wellbeing. Our problems as a country cannot be solved by just reducing the number of representatives; it is their nature that needs to be addressed.
Instead of hurrying to amend the constitution and introduce clauses that will not make life easier and create room for further amendments, why don't we put Punguza on hold and seek more ideas? A more comprehensive process is needed to address the country's complex issues.
