H.E the President of Kenya is calling the nation to look into these ideals and put them into practice.
We hope that in his remaining term, and if he is re-elected or future elected governments will turn them into action:
- Democracy,
- Freedom,
-The rule of law,
- Strong institutions,
- Highest attainable standard of healthcare, education, housing, food, water, social security and human dignity.
1. Democracy —
Perfection in democracy would look like: - - - Every adult citizen has an equal and meaningful opportunity to participate in government.
- Elections are free, fair, transparent, peaceful and credible.
- Voters choose leaders without intimidation, bribery, manipulation or discrimination.
- Political power changes peacefully through the will of the people.
- Minority rights are protected even when the majority disagrees with them.
- Citizens can criticize government without fear of persecution.
- Political parties compete on ideas, competence and integrity rather than ethnicity, hatred or violence.
- Leaders understand that public office is a responsibility entrusted to them by the people, not personal ownership of power.
- Citizens remain involved between elections through public participation, accountability and civic engagement.
In its highest form: democracy would make government genuinely of the people, by the people and for the people.
2. Freedom —
- People can live responsibly without unnecessary oppression.
- Perfection in freedom would mean that people have the greatest reasonable space to make decisions about their lives while respecting the rights of others.
This would include:
- Freedom of thought, conscience and belief.
- Freedom of religion and worship.
- Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
- Freedom of association.
- Freedom of movement.
- Freedom to pursue education, employment and legitimate business.
- Freedom from discrimination, slavery, torture, arbitrary detention and oppression.
- Freedom to participate in public affairs.
- Freedom to make personal choices without unnecessary interference.
But perfect freedom would not mean freedom to harm others.
It would be freedom accompanied by responsibility.
3. Rule of law —
Nobody is above the law.
- A perfected rule-of-law society would have: • One law applying fairly to everyone.
• No person being above the law—not presidents, ministers, judges, wealthy people, religious leaders, police officers or ordinary citizens.
• Independent and competent courts.
• Due process and fair trials.
• Presumption of innocence.
• Equal protection before the law.
• Professional and accountable police and security institutions.
• Laws that are clear, publicly known and fairly enforced.
• Government itself being subject to constitutional and legal limits.
• Justice that is reasonably accessible and affordable.
• Compensation and remedies where people's rights are violated.
The test would be:
- Can an ordinary person obtain justice against a powerful person or institution when the law is on their side?
4. Strong institutions —
- Systems that work beyond individuals.
Strong institutions would mean that:
- The country does not depend excessively on having "good leaders."
- Institutions would be:
• Competent.
• Independent where independence is necessary.
• Professionally staffed.
• Properly funded.
• Transparent.
• Accountable.
• Resistant to corruption and political manipulation.
• Governed by clear procedures.
• Capable of continuing to function when political leadership changes.
• Parliament would legislate effectively,
• Courts would administer justice independently,
• Public agencies would deliver services,
• Regulators would regulate fairly,
• Oversight institutions would genuinely hold power accountable.
The highest institutional achievement would be a system that makes good governance easier and abuse of power harder.
5. Healthcare —
- the highest attainable standard of health for everyone.
It would mean:
• Creating conditions that allow people to prevent disease,
• Obtain treatment and live healthy lives. Everyone would have:
• Accessible primary healthcare.
• Preventive and emergency care.
• Maternal and child healthcare.
• Mental-health and rehabilitation services.
• Essential medicines.
• Qualified healthcare professionals.
• Clean environments and sanitation.
• Health education.
• Affordable or universally accessible healthcare.
• Protection from catastrophic medical costs.
• Special attention to vulnerable people. • Healthcare would be based on need rather than wealth, status or political connections.
6. Education —
- Every person develops their potential. Perfection in education would mean:
• Every child and adult has genuine opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills, wisdom and character. It would provide:
• Quality early childhood education.
• Universal access to primary and secondary education.
• Affordable opportunities for higher, technical and vocational education.
• Qualified and motivated teachers.
• Safe learning environments.
• Digital and technological literacy.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Scientific and practical knowledge.
• Civic and ethical education.
• Opportunities for lifelong learning.
• Education would not merely produce people who can pass examinations.
• It would produce people capable of thinking, creating, working, cooperating, solving problems and contributing to society.
7. Housing —
- Everyone has a safe and dignified place to live.
This would mean that:
• Nobody is forced to live without adequate shelter because of poverty or circumstances beyond their control.
• Adequate housing would provide:
- Safety and security.
- Reasonable space.
- Clean water.
- Sanitation.
- Electricity or appropriate energy.
- Protection from extreme weather.
- Reasonable proximity to schools, healthcare, employment and transport.
- Security of tenure.
- Protection from arbitrary eviction.
- It would include rental - public and private regulation, including proper resolution of conflicts in this area.
8. Food —
nobody goes hungry.
A perfected food system would:
• Ensure that everyone has regular access to:
- Sufficient food.
- Nutritious food.
- Safe food.
- Affordable food.
- Culturally appropriate food.
- Sustainable sources of food.
It would also:
- Address the underlying causes of hunger through productive agriculture, employment, markets, infrastructure, social protection and responsible food distribution.
The goal would be more than "nobody is starving." It would be that people have the nutrition necessary to grow, work, learn and live healthy lives.
9. Water —
- Safe water is available to everyone. It would mean:
• universal access to:
- Safe drinking water.
- Adequate water for sanitation and hygiene.
- Reliable water systems.
- Affordable access.
- Sustainable management of rivers, lakes, groundwater and other water resources.
- No community would have to choose between drinking unsafe water and going without water.
10. Social security —
Nobody is abandoned when they cannot adequately support themselves.
A mature society would:
• Have mechanisms to protect people against major life risks such as:
- Old age.
- Disability.
- Unemployment.
- Poverty.
- Loss of income.
- Childhood vulnerability.
- Widowhood.
- Family crises.
- Disasters and emergencies.
The objective would not be to create permanent dependence. Rather, social security would provide a floor beneath which human beings should not be allowed to fall, while helping people regain independence whenever possible.
11. Human dignity —
Every person is treated as having inherent worth
This may be the foundation underneath all the others.
This would mean:
• That a person's worth is not determined by:
- Wealth.
- Political position.
- Tribe or ethnicity.
- Religion.
- Gender.
- Disability.
- Education.
- Occupation.
- Social class.
- Nationality.
- Age.
Every person would be treated as a human being of inherent worth and equal moral value.
That would mean:
• Freedom from humiliation, exploitation, discrimination, violence and degrading treatment, together with meaningful opportunities to develop one's potential.
Bringing everything together towards a society that is citizens focused would therefore not simply be one with a good political leader, it would be one in which the entire system has been developed and funded to work together:
Democracy gives people political power.
Freedom gives people personal space to live and act responsibly.
Rule of law prevents arbitrary power.
Strong institutions make good governance sustainable.
Healthcare protects life and health.
Education develops human potential.
Housing provides security and shelter.
Food and water sustain life.
Social security protects people against severe vulnerability.
"Every person's dignity" gives the entire system its moral purpose - Every person has the freedom, security, opportunity, resources and dignity necessary to develop their God-given or human potential, while exercising their freedom in a way that respects the equal rights and dignity of others.
ELIJAH MUTUA KIRIMA.
SOCIAL WORKER (BASW- UON).
THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD.
