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Why Public Servants Must Avoid Politics

As we head towards elections it is expected that while the Opposition uses its mobilization skills and local networks around the country to “spread the word” on its behalf, the Incumbent shall as is the tradition rely heavily on state machinery and structures to popularize its re-election agenda.

As the hunt for votes gears up as we approach the election year, the role of the National Government Administrative Officers will rear its ugly head yet again, exposing the feeble underbelly of the relationship between the National and County Governments. Again, the constitutional mantra of interdependence between these two levels of government will be tested.

It is at this stage that a “restructured provincial administration” will either show proof that it can, intends to and has shaken off its former, post- colonial public image, or will as is widely expected take up its traditional monsterish, authoritarian role and push the government’s political agenda.

The Constitution lf Kenya, 2010 re-ordered the nature of Kenya’s post-colonial state, it deconstructed the logic of state power and rule, deconstructed the ‘imperial presidency’ and its arm of authoritarian rule – the provincial administration.

In the actualization of self-governance administratively, the Constitution vested all County Executive Authority in the County Executive Committee (CEC) headed by an elected Governor and deputy.

As representatives of the President at local levels, the provincial administration under the old order exercised upward accountability, as they were answerable to and served at the pleasure of the President.

Since local leadership in the form of the CEC is accountable to the people, is the provincial administration in addition to being answerable to the President also answerable to the people as it purports to shake off its operational history?

President Uhuru’s action in 2014 to increase and delegate powers to the 47 County Commissioners faced harsh criticism for its attempt to create two centers of power at the county level. These increased roles have pitted County Commissioner against Governor – most notable in Mombasa County where Mr. Marwa is perpetually at loggerheads with Governor Joho.

It would for instance be fundamentally wrong for a County Commissioner to go around saying; “you need to join this government as it is the only one that will guarantee you development…. There is no development you will get when you remain outside government.” A statement such as this by a public officer meant to serve the citizenry impartially would be detrimental to the sensitive and delicate process of promoting interdependence. 

For the National Administration as currently constituted to effectively and impartially serve the people of Kenya it ought to play a central role in the coordination of issues between the central and county government and promote the interdependence of these two levels of government.

Campaigning for the Jubilee Party will do very little in promoting this very important constitutional principle. As public servants National Government Administrative Officers must keep off politics.


*** A version of this post was published in the 24th November 2016 edition of The Star Newspaper which can be accessed HERE *** 

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