Unveiling integrity and accountability in Kenya's public service, the paradox of wealth.

In a surprise move, the President of Kenya sacked his entire cabinet a few weeks ago after weeks of protests led by the Gen Z population in the country. The protests, marked by tragic loss of life, more than 50 casualties, brought out a clear, unequivocal message from the youth of Kenya a demand for integrity, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law as enshrined in the 2010 Constitution. This was the first time in independent Kenya that demonstrators breached the walls of parliament, underlining the severity of the grievances and urgency for reform.
The Gen Z activists, whose conditions were thought out and needing no negotiation, exercised their rights enshrined in Articles 1 and 137 of the Constitution, pushing the government to take responsibility. Cornered by the continuous pressure and undeniable shouting for change, the President had no choice but to sack his entire cabinet. In contrast, however, the subsequent nomination of a new cabinet composed of a number of former cabinet secretaries, sprinkled with new faces from the opposition, has been viewed with skepticism and scrutiny.
As vetting continued at the parliamentary committee, what became salient was the tremendous growth in net worth of former cabinet secretaries within the past 20 months. It shocked and elicited a fundamental question within the hearts of Kenyans, how did these public servants gather so much wealth amid a straining economy and joblessness?
With improved governance, the struggle is fronted by Gen Z, the declaration of wealth call has heightened. Should declaration of assets and net worth be compulsory to all public service recruits, from intern and attaché to senior officers? Other than experience and qualifications, should financial growth of a public servant be a measure of their integrity and accountability?
Take the case of a government clerk who starts work at a relatively low level and, after serving for more than 30 years, retires in riches. How would this be assessed with regard to integrity? Public servants are held to being answerable to the people, especially in matters relating to the accumulation of wealth. Compared to their counterparts in the private sector, public servants usually seem to gain riches faster. This leads to further questions, What are their sources of wealth? What are in place monitoring mechanisms or methods for evaluation of the growth?.
Comparing lifestyle and financial status of a public servant to his counterpart working in the private sector, one would find quite contrasting realities. The two instances have always come out to be very different, thus pointing out probable inefficiencies in the chance of acquiring wealth. Is it that there are ways to achieve wealth open to public servants which are not very apparent to those in the private sector?
The demand for transparency and accountability in the acquisition of wealth by public servants is not only a matter of public interest but one of the cornerstones of trust in governance. The voices of Gen Z, therefore, offer a very powerful reminder that the battle for integrity, the war against corruption, and the pursuit of true accountability are far from being won as the country traverses this tumultuous moment in history. It's time to take a critical look at how public servants amass wealth and how mechanisms that ensure they remain true to their mandate of serving the public interest are implemented.
It is in this regard that Kenya needs to listen to the cries of its younger generation by setting up strong monitoring systems which keep tabs on the wealth of public servants. Only then can the country move towards a future where governance is truly transparent, accountable, and reflective of the values enshrined in the Constitution.
The public should measure public servants who, in turn, ought to be accountable to the public.
Author,
Ekaale Ekuam
A Freelance Writer, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management Consultant.