We need a national dialogue to address issues

Kenya needs a national dialogue to address challenges bedeviling the nation. Early this year, I attended a national dialogue of Rwanda called Umushyikirano (to dialogue).

Normally, it is held towards the end of the year but last year’s event was postponed due to Covid-19. The dialogue was held at Kigali International Conference Centre.

Here, Rwandese drawn from all walks of life, both at home and abroad attend, physically or livestream and contribute towards making their country better. The event is broadcast on national television and radio stations, big screens in regional centres and now on social media sites like YouTube and Facebook. This also allows those in the diaspora to participate. Foreign diplomats and other foreigners attend. President Paul Kagame chairs the two-day dialogue, and attends all sessions together with Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente.

The country evaluates its previous year, plans the following year’s development and discusses issues national unity and governance. They hold national leaders accountable over their performance and rewards best performing districts (counties for Kenya).

A mayor of a district or a parastatal board who fail to deliver in his or her mandate is held accountable in public, sometimes leading to shaming sessions. Ministers sign Imihigo, a performance-based contract, committing to meet the Rwandese expectations.

Back home, Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions have started bilateral talks at Bomas of Kenya to iron out some issues affecting Kenyans including the high cost of living. It’s good that President William Ruto recently asked his Cabinet Secretaries to sign performance contracts.

During the dialogue in Rwanda, citizens point out wrongs committed by district leaders that have denied them services and even propose the way forward. They applaud those who have gone out of their way to ensure services are delivered. They also ask why this or that was not done and the mayors have to respond immediately. During the dialogue, important reports like population census are released to the public, followed by a panel discussion on the same.

The Umushyikirano is an event where ideas and resolutions that come out of it form policies that end up in Parliament to become laws and form nation building initiatives. Some past resolutions include Abunzi, which is a mediation committee that handles disputes before they are taken to court and Girinka, a one cow per family initiative.

Such dialogues in Kenya would be better than where a few people are appointed to sit in expensive hotels to discuss issues concerning the nation. The Rwandan model makes all Rwandese feel included in decision-making. It is also a platform for the government to show citizens what is doing for them. It is an accountability platform for service delivery. The dialogue model needs not only to be encouraged at national level in the country but also at county and constituency level, where citizens hold leaders to account as per their election campaign manifestos.

In Kenya, reward may come in the next elections, where one will not need to use a lot of money to campaign but his or her development record will sell him or her to the electorate.

With the kind of cunning leaders in Kenya, who promise all kinds of developments, and who are willing to use money to sway voters, such dialogues will help citizens make informed decisions.

With these dialogues, we may not need long campaign periods, which normally have a negative effect on the economy. It is unfortunate that civil society and religious leaders’ request to be part of the bipartisan talks has failed, leaving only a few selected coalition leaders.

The writer is a reporter with The Standard