This archive report was first published on 8 December 2019.
Published on December 8, 2019, the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report has been reduced to a fight over an expanded Executive and its enfeebled prime minister. However, the report's true significance lies in its portrayal of Kenya as a country mired in crises, with a people feeling left out and a leadership that is clueless.
The report's first chapter highlights the urgent need for change, citing issues such as a trust deficit, disrespect for the law, and a failure of parentage. It also notes that most injustices in Kenya are swept under the carpet, and that the country's youth feel excluded from society.
According to the report, inclusivity is not just about being included or being a member, but also about bringing a certain strength to the group, feeling valued, and having one's contribution listened to and appreciated. The report emphasizes that belonging feeds into oneness and builds strength, industry, and productivity of the group.
However, the report's recommendations have been narrowed down by politicians to a single snippet, driving traffic away from its serious content. The BBI merits kudos for proposing a national conference, which would provide an opportunity for Kenyans to listen to themselves and to each other, guided by the report's recommendations.
A national conference would also address the issue of politics, which has been the root cause of Kenya's problems. As the report notes, an ethos and inclusivity will make governance, national or devolved, easier. It's time for Kenya's leaders to focus on fixing the country's ethos before reforming other issues.
