Pomp And Ostentation a Precursor for Repression And Aloofness From People

Maina Kiai

24 June 2011

opinion

Nairobi — Chief Justice Willy Mutunga (how naturally that flows!) and his deputy Nancy Baraza made news by being sworn in without the red robes and wigs that we are accustomed to.

Their gesture was simple but huge in impact: They were saying they get it that Kenyans want a different way of doing things as expressed in the new Constitution.

In contrast, Keriako Tobiko opted to reflect that he was part of the old order, in robes and wig and that for him, his elevation — which is still questionable — was part of business as usual.

I hope that Willy and Nancy continue challenging the old order and assumptions, and working to be in sync with our aspirations, for which we have shed blood, sweat and tears. But it won’t be easy, even with all the goodwill in the world. For the forces of repression and status quo will do all they can to stymie and trip them.

One of the things they would be well advised to guard against is the pomp, ostentation and entitlement that accompany high office in Kenya.

And that starts by differentiating officials from the rest of the population by inculcating a sense of difference, specialness and entitlement. From the flowing robes, to the chauffeured limousine with chase cars and obvious security, these things are meant to make one feel special and different, creating a sense of togetherness with others who share these entitlements and special privileges.

And before you know it, you lose touch with ordinary people and focus on the entitlements.

This is why, for instance, our MPs and top officials insist on flying first class on our tax money.

This is why they seek to increase their per diems to $1,000 per day when travelling to Europe and the US, more than double what First World countries pay for their top officials and with much larger resources available.

They have confused entitlements for rights, taking public resources to be personal, even when they are easily the best paid public officials in the world.

Make no mistake: these privileges feel good. And it takes conscious effort to avoid and reject them.

Two years ago, after interviewing Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his private office in Upper Hill, we joined his chase cars and the drive from Upper Hill to Dagoretti Corner took just seven minutes at the height of rush hour at 6pm!

This journey would ordinarily have taken at least an hour and a half. It is no wonder then that our officials feel so removed from the rest of Kenya and do not understand our tribulations.

And even small things can lead to this sense of entitlement: In the pre-university National Youth Service training in the 1980s, students were first dehumanised by the brutality of the living conditions; then spent all day doing physical training at which time it was drummed into them that they were not ordinary “raia” any more; then attempts were made to mould them into organs of obedience to the system.

The last part failed miserably, but by surviving the horrible conditions and tough training, many felt really tough and different, looking down on “raia wa kawaida,” stomping into bars in Gilgil and ordering the “raia” out so that “they” could drink in peace.

These are time honoured ways for regimes that do not reflect the popular will to maintain distance between them and their people and ensure that those who serve it will be willing to risk life and limb to defend it.

Thus, the mighty Roman Empire elevated its generals and officers to almost god-like status and threw huge banquets in their honour to show their might and largesse; thus the colonial empires brought us wigs and ceremony to signify distance and intimidation; and thus the communist regimes focused on military parades as warnings to their people not to attempt change.

Yes, Willy and Nancy will need security, especially if they continue challenging and questioning the old order, for that’s where the biggest threat will come from.

But as they embark on the journey of judicial reforms they should remain true to their personalities and themselves, resisting efforts to co-opt them into a lifestyle geared to make them self-serving. And if they do, they will truly be the first giants of the 2nd Republic of Kenya.

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