This column returns today after a two-week break — during which national debate fixated on the pace of reforms to promote sustainable peace, stability and justice in Kenya. Amid the semblance of peace and tranquillity, remains the fragility of our crying nation for dramatic reform of the social, economic and political governance system.

This is propped by the underlying resilience of an optimistic society; a people, whose majority are captive of poverty with rising unemployment and insecurity.

This today, in Public Watchdog represents the single most significant threat to our national social, economic and political stability. Optimism has remained our main strength, as a people, which year-in year-out underpins our productive engagements despite frailty in the political spectrum and creeping national fatigue.

What is responsible for our reforms sluggishness? The leadership must not bank on the people’s gullibility in terms of memory and money influence and reliance on the tribe numbers as a weapon.

Kenya has changed and can differentiate who stands for the best national interests and who are playing Ping-Pong with their lives for self-aggrandisement. What, then, must be these realisations with respect to reforms?

Firstly, the sensitisation and realisation of citizens’ rights in demanding acceleration of institutional reforms will make a progressive difference. The people’s willpower, if, well harnessed could prove an intangible asset, for sustainable reform agenda.

Reforms with respect to institutional governance structures, the Judiciary and justice system, resource mobilisation, allocation and distribution system to ensure wealth creation and equity are there to ensure every Kenyan partakes in national prosperity.

The reforms agenda must also guarantee freedom of association, press and human rights while ensuring Government and all those serving any position in government remain accountable for the actions.

Our reform agenda must encapsulate the overall well being of Kenya, as a nation, these being inalienable rights of the citizenry. We must own the reform process as a people and drive it while remaining watchful of short-term opportunism of some of our leaders. We must remain focused on posterity without any individual actors in mind.

Secondly, the reform course is not about the President Kibaki, Prime Minister, VP or other MPs now or in future. Neither are they aimed at appeasing Americans or Europeans, who are stakeholders by virtue being members of the international community and harbour strategic interests.

Our friends can facilitate and encourage us through the reform process, but we must remain architects of our own reform and governance pillars. Further, none of our current crop of leaders should consider the Constitution as being prepared specifically for their ascending to power. We all desire a fair, just and accountable system of government — serving all Kenyans; repeat all Kenyans.

It is preposterous that as the country is crying for speedy implementation of reforms, some leaders shamelessly continue to dampen national spirits with persistent bickering and positioning for power.

Many of these leaders, will continue to engage in retrogressive actions and endless political succession intrigues or theatrics.

Instead of listening to voices of reason, from domestic and international platforms, such leaders have instead elected aloofness and haughtiness. We say to them: Ignore voices of reasons like Kofi Annan and you would be choosing to smack the very people you hope to lead on Tuesday.

Further, Public Watchdog adds to such leaders: You can no longer bank on what has been Kenyans’ short attention span. That culture, so we hope is now gone, and tomorrow shall be a day of sweet payback through the will of the people.

Thus, in retrospect, we have, as a people hopefully learnt, from our past and now know that our political leaders promise one thing today, but deliver the opposite or nothing tomorrow. Money can no longer buy votes since Kenyans know they can happily take the money, but let their conscience guide them in determining leadership on merit.

Thirdly, the sequencing of change holds the key to implementation of a well-integrated reform agenda. We must determine which reforms must take priority and promise maximum national impact.

In this, the constitutional dispensation is key. Governance holds the key to unlocking our national potential. We cannot contemplate going into the next election without a new constitution.

Here, the Committee of Experts are doing a commendable job and as such their work must not be politicised. It is, however, critical that the committee continue to embrace transparency and remain apolitical.

Finally, we must reform because we believe such measures will make an enduring difference in the stability and prosperity of this country. That is the only choice we have on this matter of compelling public interests!