Sunday, June 16, 2013

Kethi Kilonzo Senate vs National Assembly

Senate, National Assembly row threatens devolution

Updated Saturday, June 15th 2013 at 20:51 GMT +3
Those who don’t learn from history are bound to repeat it. The power-fight between the Senate and the National Assembly threatens one of the key pillars of our Constitution – devolution.   There can only be one beneficiary of such a fight – National Government.  And the losers, just like it happened 50 years ago, will be Kenya, and Kenyans. Poor countries are poor because those who have power make choices that create poverty.  They get it wrong not by mistake or ignorance but on purpose. 
In the summer of 1945 as the Second World War was drawing to a close the Japanese Colony in Korea began to collapse.   Within a month of Japan’s unconditional surrender on August 15, Korea was divided into two spheres of influence.  The South was administered by the United States.  The North, by Russia.
The people of South Korea have living standards similar to those of Portugal and Spain. In North Korea living standards are akin to those of a sub-saharan African country and about one-tenth of average living standards in South Korea. 
The teenagers in the North grow up in poverty, without entrepreneurial initiative, creativity or adequate education to prepare them for skilled work.  Much of the education they receive at school is pure propaganda. Meant to shore up the legitimacy of the regime; they have few books, let alone computers.  After finishing school everyone has to go into the army for ten years. Those teenagers know that they will not be able to own property, start a business, or become more prosperous.  The teenagers in the South obtain a good education, and face incentives that encourage them to exert effort and excel in their chosen vocations. South Korea teenagers know that if successful as entrepreneurs or workers they can one day enjoy the fruits of their investments. 
Those striking differences are not ancient.  They did not exist prior to the end of the Second World War. They cannot be explained by geography or culture. They are the result of deliberate political choices. Kenya gained independence 18 years after North and South Korea. Even if development in South Korea was to freeze for the next 18 years, Kenya would still not catch up.  This is not because of geographical, racial, cultural or colonial master differences. It is because of the deliberate choices our leaders (and Kenyans by extension) have made and continue to make to-date. 
Devolution gives communities, especially those that are marginalised and of minorities, the right to self govern, participate in Government, and make decisions in matters that affect them. It is meant to ensure equitable sharing of national and local resources in the country.
Senate and the National Assembly, being part of the same body, Parliament, have an equal responsibility under the Constitution to ensure that devolution in all its forms is successful. The County Governments are governments of the people.  They are the same persons who elected the members of both Houses.  To continue to ask which is superior, is fatal to both Houses, and the country, like parts of a tree fighting each other.  Between the roots of the tree, the stem, the branches, the leaves, its flowers and its fruits, none is more important than the other.
Devolution, self governance, county governments, and Kenya will not realise and enjoy the gains of the Constitution if Senate and the National Assembly do not work hand in hand, and put to stop any attempt, like 50 years ago, not to devolve power, the national cake, and uniform economic and social development countrywide.

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