Law on harambees to enhance accountability
What you need to know:
- Through the funds drives, infrastructure, including roads, health centres and schools, have been built.
- There has been an attempt to block public servants from getting directly involved in the funds drives.
Harambee has since Independence six decades ago been not only a rallying call for national solidarity, but also a movement for socio-economic development. In this spirit, the government’s development efforts have been hugely complemented.
Through the funds drives, infrastructure, including roads, health centres and schools, have been built across the country. Funds have also been mobilised to assist the needy and also to meet emergencies, such as paying hospital bills and enabling life-saving operations.
But there is also a not-so-rosy side of harambees. This is often the extortion, especially by public sector officials. In this way, what appeared to have been a godsend has been abused, with the rampant corruption and blatant theft by greedy officials.
This explains President William Ruto’s bid to regulate harambees, which was in response to a public outcry over the manipulation of this otherwise useful tool for channelling support to individuals, families and communities.
Transparency and accountability
There has been an attempt to block public servants from getting directly involved in the funds drives, which makes sense by enabling the prevention of its abuse. Now, President Ruto’s proposal hangs in the balance, with Senators calling for its total rejection.
The Bill was in response to President Ruto’s ban in July on all State and public officers from participating in harambees to curb its abuse. He directed then Attorney-General Justin Muturi to draft legislation to guide this important movement that plays such a key role in national development.
The senators’ overwhelming disapproval of the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill, 2024, has forced its indefinite deferment in the House. Sensing its defeat, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot wrote to Speaker Amason Kingi requesting for more time for the legislators to seriously reflect on the matter.
While the critics have taken issue with the overzealous displays during harambees by public officials courting support, the Senators have condemned what they termed as an attempt over-legislate the movement.
On this one, the senators calling for the total rejection of the proposed law are wrong. Some kind of regulation is required. Such a law will greatly help to promote transparency and accountability.
