Unearth

The just concluded 1st Annual National Constitutional Implementation Conference offered a platform to take stock of the progress of the new constitution implementation process. It was proven that the implementation process is attainable and possible to dispose the several Bills and issues within the stipulated time lines if only we move and work as a team. The Parliament, AG’s office, the Executive, relevant Ministries, CIC, the Non-State Actors and any other department responsible all have to do their roles and fast track the process. The unnecessary delay at any one stage of the process, throws the whole process aback which will impact on the implementation time line. Instead of bashing and bickering on what has not been done or who has not done what, we should at individual levels ask ourselves what have I done in regard to this journey. The why element for the Commission and other key departments that need to ensure the wheel of implementation keeps running is important. The ...

The reforms momentum in Kenya has continued to gather pace. With the recent vetting of potential office holders to key positions in the Judiciary then the reform atmosphere is positive. Negative ethnicity has been a factor that undermines democracy in Kenya which we shouldn’t let it happen again come 2012. I would like to propose that just like the new Judicial appointees had to go through a tough and rigorous vetting, let our next leadership especially for key offices go through the same. Let them rise to the occasion and be confident enough to face the Kenyans and put out rightly there plan and strategy for this nation. By having a clearance from the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC), this would help in ensuring that the interested candidate is ready and committed to lead from the front in fight against corruption. Corruption as a vice has continued to bedeviled us as a nation for many years and with the better mechanism put in place in its fight, an end to it should start ...

When Hamish McLennan former CEO of Young & Rubicam an advertising firm in the US announced early this year that he will be stepping down, the news was received with mixed reactions. An accomplished executive who was at the top of his game had to make a choice between fatherhood and career. Just like many executives in the job market today, the choice is usually among the hardest to make. “I’m ambitious: I’ve spent 25 years being a race-horse. You strive to get to the top of your game, and you enjoy it – but it can become all-consuming. The reality is that you can’t have a global role and spend much time with your kids,” says Hamish. He continues to say “It’s hard for anyone in an executive role to strike a balance because one has a constant tension between wanting to excel at work and wanting to bring up a great family.” My daughter is 13 and my son is 11, I don’t want them to leave home and say, ”well, you had a great career, but we don’t know you.” At 44, Hamish says that he wo...

Democracy in Kenya has been undermined by weak institutions in the past. This shall be a thing of the past if the renewed energy and zeal that most Kenyans have developed is maintained even beyond 2012. The newly appointed team to the Judiciary an arm of the government has promised to bring about the necessary reforms that Kenyans have been yearning for. The level of trust and confidence that majority of Kenyans have placed in this team is enormous and that the opportunity is here for them to prove that they can surely deliver. By working on game plan that shall see reforms in our judicial service in phases is most welcomed especially now that the past has so many unsettled scores. The voices of the people and the Civil societies are now given an audience before any public appointment is made unlike in the past. This move has in a broader sense restored the trust once again in our government institutions. The tune and culture of work is going to definitely change for a number of offi...

The Kenyan dream of achieving Vision 2030 will be realised as long as Kenyans keep selfish interests aside and allow for mutual participation and acceptance of everyone’s ideas or opinion. The implementation of the new Constitution is met by unnecessary opposition by people who think while it was written, they were the only ones kept in mind. The emergence of tribal chiefs and political failures to now think they are the best candidates for senators and governors is saddening. Kenya has a potential to be a super power in Africa, and this can be achieved with better systems and policies. But in the transport sector, for instance, no better policies and measures are in place to help transform it by embracing new technologies and practices. The railway transport has been marred with corruption scandals and nothing new has been done since its construction. Kenyans want no more lip service. If we allow leaders who failed in their opportune time to serve us again, nothing will change an...