By Wanyonyi Wambilyanga

The US government is fighting hard to be the enemy of reforms in the country. By purporting to support change and accountability, the US is cementing impunity and making it flourish.

It took a visit from Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr Johnnie Carson, to banish Attorney General Amos Wako for standing in the way of reforms. He said his Government was processing papers that would see another four people banned from the US soon. This comes after the same Government wrote to 15 people warning them of imminent bans should they not steer the country towards reforms. Now that Wako is not setting foot in America anytime soon, so what?

Wako, like a matatu driver, will only act on the whims of his boss. Matatu drivers will always drop off and pick up passengers at wrong spots. Not that they enjoy the craze; they have targets to meet at the end of the day and the more they do that the more assured they will be of their jobs and a pat on the back from the bosses.

If Wako was acting on his own, transition from the Kanu government to Narc would have seen his head roll. Obedience to the powers that be made sure he sticks.

The buzzwords nolle prosequi and sub-judice have been permanent features of Wako’s tenure as top Government lawyer. He has used the powers to stop cases or debate in Parliament for what could have passed as selfish motives. If President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga thought this was stifling reforms, why didn’t act?

The Attorney General is supposed to be an institution. Therefore, banning Wako and retaining the office as it is does not help much. The onus now is on the principals to initiate the much-needed changes.

Perhaps we should ask a few questions. What changes have the principals mooted and the AG stifled for political expediency? If Wako is asked to pack his bags and the principals appoint another AG, will the new person push through the much-needed legislation?

Will he whip Parliament to pass legislation when the House is against it? Will he ask the President not to assent to laws he deems repugnant? Will the new boss arrest ministers and top officials caught with their snouts in the honey bag? I doubt.

In the present arrangement it is only the President and the Prime Minister who can drive reforms. Going for the small fish will only but sate the ego of the Big Brother. The US knows where the fault lies but has turned a blind eye on it. Even on the basics, the principals have failed. It was the President and the Prime Minister who were to tour the country to foster healing and reconciliation. But what happened when they got to Eldoret?

The Prime Minister scoffed at the VP as his junior in Government and protocol wars emerged instead of thinking about the displaced people.