FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2015

Dr Juma's rejection shows how mediocre our MPs have become

Ms Monica Juma during her vetting by the National Assembly's Committee on Security at Parliament on June 9, 2015.

Ms Monica Juma during her vetting by the National Assembly's Committee on Security at Parliament on June 9, 2015. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

  • I hope Dr Juma understands that the MPs' rejection of her nomination is not a comment on her person, but a comment on the mediocre horde we Kenyans gave ourselves in March 2013, a gang that easily confuses poise for arrogance.
  • Dr Juma earned her doctorate from Oxford University, was a Research Associate at the International Peace Institute in New York before she served at the Africa Institute of South Africa in Pretoria.
  • This is in fact where my politics differs with hers. But as a properly trained practitioner, she never went to town to broadcast her role. I have seen many academics go wild in excitement because they played some insignificant role for a politician.
By GODWIN MURUNGA
More by this Author

My readers will know that I am not a fan of the Jubilee administration. Many of the things they do rub me the wrong way.

The good things they do are clouded in populism — designed to win votes rather than sustainably improve Kenya.

A political system that is designed to win votes does things that last only until the votes are counted. One that seeks development does things that make a significant difference in the lives of voters.

A political system that is committed to development attracts serious minds and, in this respect, Dr Monica Juma was exceptional for the Jubilee government.

In Dr Juma, the Jubilee government had an accomplished person, well trained, humble and experienced. And while Kenyans are surprised that her nomination was rejected, I know many things are just too good for our parliamentarians to see.

I hope Dr Juma understands that the MPs' rejection of her nomination is not a comment on her person, but a comment on the mediocre horde we Kenyans gave ourselves in March 2013, a gang that easily confuses poise for arrogance.

Let me add quickly that mediocre is not an abusive word. I use it consciously as an accurate description of what our legislators are. They are pedestrian, unexceptional or, more appropriately, second-rate.

They rank low in the scheme of things. To expect them to see excellence is to ask for far too much. Most of them really are the opposite of excellent.

If they were excellent, they would have recognised it in Dr Juma. I do not know Dr Juma personally. Indeed our paths have crossed on not more than two occasions before.

She has given a lecture to our Fellows at the African Leadership Centre, and we do not invite quacks to give lectures to Fellows whom we are preparing for the complex task of leadership. I, however, do not need to know her personally to appreciate that she is properly schooled, one rare Kenyan whose intellectual achievement speaks for itself.

Dr Juma earned her doctorate from Oxford University, was a Research Associate at the International Peace Institute in New York before she served at the Africa Institute of South Africa in Pretoria. She understands and can effectively articulate issues around peace and security having written and consulted extensively on the topic. She is easily one of Kenya's leading analysts on security issues.

Dr Juma's appointment as Kenya's Permanent Representative to the African Union and lgad revealed the gem she was, for she easily distinguished herself as a thorough, dedicated and articulate servant of the pan-African and global institutions, easily eclipsing in performance many others in the diplomatic corps in Addis Ababa.

While visiting Addis Ababa, a friend whispered to me just how respected her performance was. No wonder, our parliamentarians cannot see it and are still asking for her achievements? I hate adults who need spoon-feeding. In her role as Kenya's representative to the AU, she certainly was at the nerve centre of the choreographed campaign to defeat the ICC process.

This is in fact where my politics differs with hers. But as a properly trained practitioner, she never went to town to broadcast her role. I have seen many academics go wild in excitement because they played some insignificant role for a politician.

You know it when they publish op-eds where they not only feel entitled to their logic but also to inventing their own facts. But not so for Dr Juma, who has some fidelity to facts. She knows her role, plays it with the coolness befitting a sound academic and lets history judge her contribution.

Godwin Murunga is senior research fellow, Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi.

In the headlines

1  HOUR AGO

Bribery claims dog MPs over Uhuru choice

President Uhuru Kenyatta is considering nominating Dr Monica Juma afresh.

1  HOUR AGO

Furious Ngilu takes war back to EACC

A defiant suspended Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu (left) has come out guns blazing and

  • NEWS 
    Pope hints at Kenya visit in November   
  • Mukurwe-ini MP, Kabando Wa Kabando. He has blamed the Transition Authority or failure to to properly implement devolution matters adding that the constitution clearly stated that devolution should take three years but unfortunately because of the political pressure that came from the council of governors, they devolved more than the county governments could handle. PHOTO/FILE
    NEWS 
    Why Uhuru is facing disquiet in his Mt Kenya backyard   
  • PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA The building being extended by a Chinese company on Muindi Mbingu Street, Nairobi, as seen at the weekend. The building belongs to NSSF and houses Nakumatt Lifestyle, among other businesses.
    NEWS 
    Nakumatt Lifestyle fire contained   
  • Kenyan Defence Forces run towards the Garissa University campus after an attack by Somalia's Al-Shabaab gunmen in Garissa on April 2, 2015. AFP PHOTO | CARL DE SOUZA
    COUNTIES 
    Garissa residents begin peace walk