Wow! Thank you Jimmy, for the deep, thoughtful and candid response.
The example you have given goes right to the very the heart of the matter: Our value system, the essential "why" around everything we do, is poorly articulated and inadequate.
Article 10. is arguably the most important chapter in the constitution as it governs the interpretation and application of the constitution, as well as, all laws and all policies made in Kenya. Yet it is one of the most vague and poorly thought out chapters in the document.
Article 10 defines "national values and principles of governance" as:
(a) patriotism, national unity, sharing and devolution of power, the rule of law, democracy and participation of the people;
(b) human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusiveness, equality, human rights, non-discrimination and protection of the marginalised;
(c) good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability; and
(d) sustainable development.
Even though the terms used in Article 10 sound nice and (perhaps were intended
to) conform to donor buzz-phrases, no one really knows exactly what
they mean, why they were chosen, why other values were left out and why the ones chosen are good/best for us!
Change management practitioners will concur that it is very difficult (if not impossible) to have intrinsic community buy-in, ownership and actualization of "top-down" imposed values - notwithstanding the benefits. National values must be intrinsically held - and must make sense at a personal level - or they will not be practiced voluntarily and consistently, especially when "no one is looking".
For example, what does "equality" really mean in Article 10? Is it about equality of opportunity or is it rooting for equality of outcomes or is it a paradoxical mix of both - and in what ways? Clear answers would/should fundamentally shape our choice of economic ideology and/or policies. Arbitrarily advocating for "equality" without defining the term, in view of strategic objectives, does not make sense.
Even gender equality has certain implications which require careful thought e.g. how do we ensure that working parents are not sacrificing their kids values, wholesome development and future prospects by leaving them in the care of semi-literate, un-vetted guardians - in order to achieve present-day economic goals? Perhaps we need mandatory daycare and/or nursing centers in - or within walking distance of - all office buildings and at least 6 months maternity leave + 12 months flexi-time / remote work for nursing mothers for example...? which leads to... how does motherhood impact career options and does that affect the practicality of gender equality at vocational level? We need such discussions and debates in academia, media and policy circles.
Other notoriously ambiguous terms in Article 10 include "democracy", "equality", "good
governance", "integrity", "transparency" and "accountability". The assumption is that these oft-politicized words can have a
universal meaning - which is simply not true.
Article 10 conflates terminologies - which only adds more confusion: Is there / should there be a difference between national values and principles of
governance? is the intention to make the two phrases synonymous or is it
to restrict national values to the narrow context of governance?
Again, it does not look as if adequate holistic thought was put into this laundry-list section.
Crippling ambiguity can be addressed by having a "Constitutional Definitions Chapter" within the Constitution itself (something to consider if we are headed for a referendum), that allocates a reasonably precise or bounded meaning to notoriously ambiguous and/or oft-politicized constitutional terms. Resources are scarce and the idea of waiting for reactive precedence-interpretations to be made by the Supreme Court over the next 3-5 decades is sub-optimal and wasteful, in my opinion.
BOTTOM-UP INDIGENOUS VALUES:
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Besides conformity to donor-imposed values, we do need our own indigenous values - purposefully designed to create conditions that guarantee our long-term prosperity and sustainability as a country. Article 10 should be the basis for the "Kenyan Dream".
My thoughts about this include:
a. A multi-dimensional definition of what "achievement" and "success" means in our society: What vocational archetypes should be honored, admired and emulated in our society? My suggestions include:
- Vocations whose activities result in positive, direct and broad-scope societal impact (e.g. Educationists,
MSMEs, Small business enablers e.g. investors, Medical practitioners, Farmers, Inventors / Innovators, Wealthy people whose wealth is traceable to fair business practices, and even Politicians / Community leaders who put public interest ahead of their own personal interests when setting policy).
- A culture of aspiring for excellence for its own sake (e.g. life-long learning and self development; striving for maximum potential in chosen fields; vocational self-esteem; non-materialistic sense of worth).
- Can we learn to see (and pride) ourselves as hands-on problem solvers by celebrating and empowering our indigenous innovators and inventors?
- A culture that values home-grown solutions to local and global challenges (e.g. as a vehicle for economic empowerment).
b. Critical Thinking as National value: For example: currently, displays of opulence are automatically interpreted as signals of competence and excellence. Very few people care to question how incredibly vast wealth can be "magically" acquired in such a short time. This allows white-collar criminals to launder their reputation and become dubious "role models" for our children - with damaging long-term consequences. Shouldn't these rags-to-riches overnight miracles be writing world best-sellers or giving business lectures in universities to help eradicate poverty? We all know they can't because the skills they have are best articulated in a confession.
So, beyond feel-good terminologies, a lot of deep thought and economic architecture needs to go into the idea of a National Values System - and this should include design for linkages at strategic, tactical and day-to-day level.
Best regards,
Patrick.
Patrick A. M. Maina
[Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]