JAMILA'S MEMO: Leadership and Integrity: a call for moral accountability

But why? Corruption.

The Speaker is accused of corruption in relation to an alleged 4 million Rand bribe, roughly equivalent to 28 million Kenyan shillings. 

Mapisa-Nkakula is accused of soliciting bribes from a former Department of Defence contractor in return for a government tender. 

While this may seem like a petty offense in Kenya, where such actions are unfortunately routine, the latest anti-corruption report clearly shows how widespread this trend is. However, my concern tonight is integrity, especially among our leaders.

Corruption in Kenya seems like an abandoned, old, and dusty signpost to nowhere. We know it exists, we hear about it numerous times, but we simply don’t care, or worse, we are used to it. 

Speaker Mapisa-Nkakula did not wait to be summoned, nor did she show up at the police station with a crowd of supporters chanting "mtu wetu." 

She saved her party the blushes and surrendered. Though she maintains her innocence, she is letting the law take its course. 

This reminds me of Chapter 6 of the Constitution; leadership and integrity. This chapter has struggled the most to manifest itself in practical aspects of Kenyan life.

We have leaders running for office even after being flagged by the body charged with promoting ethics and fighting corruption, such as the EACC. 

For instance, in the last election, 241 aspirants were found with questions worth noting, yet they were still allowed to run for public office, demonstrating a lack of integrity. 

We have leaders accused of corruption who are happily holding office and using that office to embezzle public funds, again displaying a lack of integrity.

In an ideal world, people resign when they differ in principle, not just in law. However, we can write all these laws, but there are some things that cannot be prescribed. 

Integrity is not just a construct of the alphabet; it requires action, thinking, and conduct. Integrity has to be lifted off the books into our actions, thinking, and conduct. 

The law has nothing to say on such matters, but our morals and conscience should be the guide, especially for those who hold public office. Leadership and integrity should walk hand in hand. 

Integrity comes with certain irreducible minimums and paves the way for moral accountability. It is the duty of all of us to ensure that we speak out when our leaders prove to be less than what we expected when we entrusted them with power.

Let us stop the culture of ignoring matters when we clearly know that what is happening is morally wrong and ensure that when it comes to our leaders, two words go hand in hand; leadership and integrity. 

In conclusion, integrity is also a common-sense question. 

That is my memo.