6 7 LEGAL MATTERS Sometime not too long ago while I was pursuing my law studies in campus, I spent some time in the library trying to “find the law”, as they say in law school. While at this pursuit which would have earned me the approbation of any conscientious teacher of the 21st century, I came across an LL.B dissertation from 2003 by one student whose name I remember well was Nellie. Recently my eyes caught a short interview with a young achiever in one of the dailies, and it was this same person. She had graduated with a doctorate 10 years down the line and secured a teaching job in the UK. For this reason if not any other, you can be sure her piece was worth the read. It was entitled “Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission; the panacea to the vice?” <strong>The</strong> budding researcher went on to give a detailed analysis of the anatomy of corruption in Kenya dating back to pre-independence times. She further went on to examine the legal and institutional infrastructure that then was in place to respond to corruption – this was very scanty. She concluded that those who conceived the idea of the KACC were in deed heaven sent, it was the country’s real hope. You will readily recall that it was about the year 2003 that the Kenya Anticorruption Commission was formed. Its establishment was greeted with an almost palpable sense of hope that at last the country was on a steady path to effectively dealing with the monster that is corruption. Hitherto, corruption had straddled the national landscape like a colossus – unhindered, unbowed, unmoved and unchecked. Our short independence history was littered with major scandals most prominent of which was the Goldenberg scandal of the TEDDY Onyango GIVES YOU Insights on corruption and its panacea 1990s. <strong>The</strong> powers that then were presided over corruption eyes, ears and mouth closed - as though it was national heritage! For these reasons and more, the formation of the Commission heralded a new dawn. THIS MAN, ZACHEAUS! Let us consider this man Zacheaus. Inspiration permanently captured his moving story in the book of Luke, the Chapter is 19. Ellen White says in that timeless book – “Education”1905, that these things were written “not that we may merely read and marvel, but that the same faith may be seen in us.” <strong>The</strong> Bible tells us that Zacheaus was chief of the tax collectors, it further specifically mentions that “he was rich”. Well, my friend Joe reminds me that we must read the Bible “with a scientific mind and a forensic eye”. That the scriptures spare space to mention Zacheaus as rich really means that he was just that, rich! A quick internet search confirmed to me that this class of Jewish citizens, also called “tax farmers” were indeed fabulously rich. In modern times, they would have easily made it to Forbes’ Ranking of World’s richest, from Israel. Tax collectors were hated by the Jews because they represented subjugation to Roman authority – willing instruments of foreign oppression. This greatly irked Jewish pride and their great sense of exclusive nationalism, especially for the fact that they boasted of God’s great promises to Abraham as asserting their superiority over other heathen nations. For this reason, tax collectors were classed in the same category with prostitutes. That the Bible records that Jesus ate with tax collectors was a sign that he had welcomed their fellowship. In so doing, Jesus went against the prevailing social norms, for which he incurred the enmity of the leaders and suspicion of the people. But none of this could divert him from his mission, He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10) <strong>The</strong> real ‘Githongo’ In Zacheus Jesus saw a heart that was susceptible to divine influence, a heart that though outwardly it appeared as hardened and excluded from all grace and religion, was inwardly craving for a higher, a deeper and a better experience. It was to answer to this call that Jesus made his way through Jericho. We can almost picture in our imagination that multitude of people that eagerly throng his footsteps as the procession makes its winding way through the streets of Jericho, the people are speaking in excited tones. <strong>The</strong>y are probably speculating the events to unfold at his next scene of action. I can imagine a few are trying to convince their unbelieving friends to bring their sick and dying to this great Teacher, what’s more, they are beginning to wonder whether he could be the promised and long awaited Messiah. But this thought they cannot entertain too long, his puritan and spartan lifestyle walking with a small band of unlearned fishermen from Galilee does not tally with the prevailing picture, at least not as painted by the scribes and teachers of the law. <strong>The</strong>irs is a picture of a glorious Messiah coming to preside over the throne of David with awful majesty and almost celestial splendor, and who will make Israel’s enemies her footstool. LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS You need not be a lawyer but you will easily appreciate that remarkable efforts have been made to fight corruption in this country. To demonstrate this, one need not go any further than the Constitution of Kenya 2010 which devotes an entire chapter to Leadership and Integrity. <strong>The</strong>se provisions are the precursor to the new look Ethics & Anticorruption Commission whose establishment was punctuated with much hue and cry, that our politicians had watered down the enabling statute. This country has passed at least six Acts of Parliament to deal with corruption and allied offences. I will tell you this is a high number for one matter needful of regulation. It all goes to show our commitment to fight the vice, or in the alternative, the pervasiveness of the vice! A BETTER DEAL An encounter with Jesus turned Zacheaus’ life round, literally. Beholding his highly unlikely guest, the rich man perceived in Him love that made the very person of his being gravitate towards a higher ideal. This ideal was exemplified in his guest. Beneath that calm dignified look in Jesus was also a heart of tender pity and undying love for men like Zacheaus, men for whom he had traded the worship and adoration of angels to walk the dusty paths of earth. He had given up the atmosphere of joy and love for the cruel hatred of Pharisees who were inspired by the very spirit of the arch rebel. A catalogue of virtues, no matter how complete would but mechanically portray the excellences resident in Zacheaus’ Chief Guest of the day. He was the very majesty of Heaven, God’s best gift to man’s greatest need, even Immanuel – God with us! He who had called him by name and bid him “make haste, come down, for today I must dwell in your house.” (Luke 19:5) THE REAL TZAR While our country has taken commendable steps in setting up a legislative, policy and institutional framework for combatting corruption, which sadly does not show commensurate results in arresting the vice, I posit to us, Jesus is the real anti-corruption tzar. <strong>The</strong> problem is certainly greater than meets the eye, the government may deal with the symptoms, Jesus alone can and does squarely deal with the cause. <strong>The</strong> Bible and the Bible only gives a correct account of the genesis of this condition, which is to be found in the tragic story of the fall of man in Genesis 3. <strong>The</strong> prophet Jeremiah squarely places a finger on the condition of the human heart as no other religion does; “<strong>The</strong> heart [is] deceitful above all [things], by TEDDY ONYANGO An FoC member since its inception, and a young lawyer by profession. and desperately wicked: who can know it?”- Jer. 17.9. Equally, the Bible alone provides the antidote to the corruption of the human heart, inviting all to “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”- (John 1:29). And while men refuse to acknowledge Him as the creator and supreme superintendent of the universe, they unwittingly welcome a cruel tyrant whose only aim is to dishonor God and to cause misery and destruction to men. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fountain</strong> <strong>magazine</strong> | <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>04</strong> - august <strong>2016</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fountain</strong> <strong>magazine</strong> | <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>04</strong> - august <strong>2016</strong>
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