Even before it is made public, the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) taskforce report has elicited heated debate. The bone of contention is the leadership structure that the report is expected to propose as part of amendments on the Constitution.

The debate is expected. Since power is about group and individual interests, how it is structured and shared is bound to cause controversy.  This has been the case in every constitutional moment in Kenya’s history from the pre-independence Lancaster talks, the failed 2005 referendum to the 2010 plebiscite which gave birth to a new Constitution.  

There is the danger, however, of the debate splitting the country along the usual fault lines, mainly ethnic. This is what Kenyans must guard against. 

To avoid a disaster, the process of reviewing the Constitution should be as participatory as possible. It must not appear as if the suggested changes have been forced down the throat of the people by a cabal of leaders. Whether the country has a healthy or acrimonious conversation depends, to a large extent, on the conduct of the political leadership. 

In past attempts to re-write the Constitution, some politicians played dishonest political games with the process, including peddling untruths to either persuade Kenyans to endorse or reject the proposed reforms. This must not be allowed to happen this time. Kenyans deserve to be told the truth about what to expect in whatever governance system that is proposed, before they decide whether to accept or reject it. That can only be achieved by a proper sensitisation programme that reaches as many Kenyans as possible.

Other than the leadership structure, the people need to be informed about how the proposed changes will affect their day-to-day lives. It is particularly important to explain how changing the Constitution will affect the social and economic circumstances of a majority of the people.

The prevailing debate on BBI report is uncomfortably about power, without suggestions on how best to tweak the system to improve the living conditions of Kenyans. We even run the risk of solving the political questions, but in the process causing more economic and social problems.

There is need, for example, to ensure the leadership structure that is created doesn’t end up being a burden on an already burdened people. What the country needs is a balance, an optimal political-economic position.