DEAR KENYAN POLITICAINS, KINDLY LIE SPARINGLY IF AT ALL YOU MUST LIE
By Odhiambo Jerameel Kevins Owuor
Worth Noting:
- In 2017 the various politicians gave numerous promises to the electorates. What is interesting is that most of them haven’t promised anything they stated. They have come up with a cover up that the government never disbursed the funds on time.
- For how long will these politicians take us for granted? Reflecting on the promises they made to Kenyans in the various regions has made me to accept the fact that politicians just have to lie.
- Where they have to draw the line is whereby they overlie to the citizens. A good example one ‘learned’ Professor caused a stir by stating that when declared for President he will legalize bhang, suspend the Constitution for six months, four working days or all within Kenya jurisdiction, he added that he will use proceeds of selling bhang to pay the debts that Kenya owe the Chinese government among other lofty promises.
Politicians have to lie. It seems that it is encoded in their DNA to do so and perhaps they are oriented to the same. For instance, Hillary Clinton admitted that she sometimes takes “public” positions that are at odds with her “private” position. In other words, she sometimes lies to the public about her true views. Only the most naive observers find it surprising that politicians try to deceive people in this way. Is this similar to what happen in Kenya especially now that we are heading towards the general elections? They are promising us a lot of goodies and heaven and they deliver hot air. Regardless it seems Kenyans are used to this norm of politicians and interestingly elect them to office.
In an insightful recent article, Brookings Institution fellow Jonathan Rauch describes why such deceptions are common, and may even be beneficial in many cases: ‘In politics, hypocrisy and doublespeak are tools. They can be used nefariously, illegally or for personal gain, as when President Richard M. Nixon denied Watergate complicity, but they can also be used for legitimate public purposes, such as trying to prevent a civil war, as in Lincoln’s case, or trying to protect American prestige and security, as when President Dwight D. Eisenhower denied that the Soviet Union had shot down a United States spy plane. Is it hypocritical to take one line in private, then adjust or deny it in public? Of course. But maintaining separate public and private faces is something we all do every day. We tell annoying relatives we enjoyed their visits, thank inept waiters for rotten service, and agree with bosses who we know are wrong.’
Jonathan Rauch adds that: ‘Often, the only way to get something done is to have separate private and public truths. Behind closed doors, nothing is settled until everything is settled. Until the deal is done, everyone can pretend not to have decided anything. But the moment the conversation becomes public, plausible deniability ceases. Everyone knows I’ve made an offer. Angry interest groups, adversaries in the other party, and even purists in my own party start cutting attack ads and lining up challengers to prevent a deal and defeat me.’
In Kenya then it seems the politicians lie in broad daylight am even sure that some of the founding fathers turn in their graves whenever they hear politicians talk. Now let’s get it right. The politicians are elected by the people; that is pursuant to the Constitution. The people are ones who delegate the power that they have to the politicians to act in their best of interests at all times. But is this the case.
There seems to a point of departure between the text of the Constitution and the reality on the ground courtesy of the elected leaders, the politicians. Kenyan citizens do pay taxes to the government this aids in running of the government. The taxes are supposed to aid in development of the country; that is the least the citizens want to be delivered to them. The fourth schedule of the Constitution designates the functions of county government and national government.
The national government functions as per the Constitution include; Foreign affairs, foreign policy and international trade; The use of international waters and water resources; Immigration and citizenship; The relationship between religion and state.; Language policy and the promotion of official and local languages; National defence and the use of the national defence services; Consumer protection, including standards for social security and professional pension plans; Promotion of sports and sports education; Monetary policy, currency, banking (including central banking), the incorporation and regulation of banking, insurance and financial corporations; Protection of the environment and natural resources with a view to establishing a durable and sustainable system of development; National referral health facilities; Agricultural policy; Energy policy including electricity and gas reticulation and energy regulation; Public investment. The Counties have the mandate to: Agriculture, County health services; County transport; Trade development and regulation; County planning and development; Ensuring and coordinating the participation of communities and locations in governance at the local level and assisting communities and locations to develop the administrative capacity for the effective exercise of the functions and powers and participation in governance at the local level.
In 2017 the various politicians gave numerous promises to the electorates. What is interesting is that most of them haven’t promised anything they stated. They have come up with a cover up that the government never disbursed the funds on time. For how long will these politicians take us for granted? Reflecting on the promises they made to Kenyans in the various regions has made me to accept the fact that politicians just have to lie. Where they have to draw the line is whereby they overlie to the citizens. A good example one ‘learned’ Professor caused a stir by stating that when declared for President he will legalize bhang, suspend the Constitution for six months, four working days or all within Kenya jurisdiction, he added that he will use proceeds of selling bhang to pay the debts that Kenya owe the Chinese government among other lofty promises.
For a minute I was embarrassed reading this on paper. I just told myself not to angry for after all the man will be competing with spoilt votes and rejected votes, of which I presume that spoilt and rejected votes will have more votes than him. This is a Professor by the name Wajackoyah George. He is as well an advocate of the High Court of Kenya. Am damn sure that he knows the history of this country and thus saying he will suspend the Constitution must be a mockery to our intelligence. He definitely joins Deputy President who made lofty promises but delivered nothing and he still wants to make the same promises to ascend to the top office of the land.
In a nutshell, voters hate dishonest politicians, often for good reason. It is easy to see how political lying might cause harm.
Odhiambo Jerameel Kevins is a law student at University of Nairobi, Parklands Campus. He regularly comments on legal, social,
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