This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
Kenya's 56th independence anniversary was marked by a sense of unease and discontent. The country's grumpy and unhappy citizenry is a far cry from the energetic and hopeful middle-aged citizen looking forward to passing on the mantle of leadership to the next generation.
Behind the pomp and pageantry of celebrations across the country lies a dramatic and unnerving situation. Nairobi County is now the third to be without a substantive leader following the arrest and arraignment of its governor on corruption charges.
The arrest of Governor Mbuvi Sonko was a culmination of a performance that was shocking in its excesses and lack of decorum. It is a stark reminder of the recklessness and frustration that Kenyans are approaching the electoral process with.
The electoral process, once a sacred exercise through which deserving people were empowered and privileged to lead, has become a marketplace where votes are bought for the price of a packet of flour.
As the national government whips county governments to pay up debts, it is ironic that it is carrying a huge log in its own eye. In Pokot, desperate Kenyans were burying scores of their loved ones killed by raging floods, a disaster that could have been mitigated with better preparation and response.
Corruption still stalks the country, exacting a heavy toll on public resources. Billions are being looted in public agencies, state corporations, and county governments, while citizens are still paying police, clerks, and officers to access services that should be free.
The youth are hungry and angry, learned but not employed, willing to work but disabled by lack of opportunities. The government's attempts to present a positive picture are akin to a child building a sandcastle on a beach at low tide.
The country's infrastructure has put it in a debt trap, and its human resources are underutilized. It is time for Kenya to stop living in the past and address the serious matters of corruption, indiscipline in public service, and historical injustices.
History teaches that if those who should hand over power will not manage the character and pace of change, the angry and restless successor certainly will.
Mshindi is the former editor-in-chief of NMG and is now consulting. (@tmshindi)
