LIFE SCRIPTS

I remember being told of a story of a bank officer who had smoked out a dubious customer trying to defraud the bank. As usual, the rogue customer was charged and released on bail for his case to be heard on another day. However, once free, he approached the bank officer smiling arrogantly while informing him that they’ll meet again in the bank soon. He however promised that this time, his fraudulent engagement would be so water-tight he would not be caught. But as I continued shuffling through my thoughts, I was suddenly shoved off the line by someone as people scrambled to enter the next public service vehicle. I had been standing on a queue ready to enter the next vehicle but to my surprise, there were human ‘scavengers’ standing by. They were not your regular bottom-of-the-pyramid kind of persona but were well-dressed men and women with sharp working class suits. They looked professional but were not professional enough to notice that we had been lining up for nearly half an hour waiting for the next vehicle. How could it be that someone would deliberately and boldly choose to do what they know is wrong? Because they know that there is no resultant punishment. That is what is called IMPUNITY. It’s a word deeply associated with the wrong acts politicians commit without care knowing very well that they will not be punished. It’s a psyche that has subconsciously developed in our minds as Kenyans. A mentality that tells us to pursue selfish gain even if it means destroying the life of another. After all, who will notice? After all, who will come to their rescue? And not only do we see such in the courts of law but also in our own private lives. Impunity is not just about the billions embezzled by politicians and their associates. It’s also about the petty cash we claim from office using fake receipts and end up being reimbursed WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT. Impunity is not just about a policeman being bribed by a would-be terrorist who murders hundreds of people. It’s also about those of us who sell food they know all too well that is contaminated with toxins to unsuspecting customers WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT. Impunity is not just about the ethnic mobilizer who pits one community against another during the election periods because they know that they’ll walk Scot free. It’s also about the social media administrator who allows discriminating comments from people who know that they WILL NOT BE CAUGHT. Impunity is not just about a politician who issues empty promises to lure people to elect him. It’s also about the man who abandons his family knowing all too well that HE WILL NOT BE CAUGHT. Acts of impunity drive us away from responsibility. We can only develop a sense of responsibility if we pledge our allegiance to a Being greater than ourselves. Impunity arises from us forgetting that there is a Creator we are accountable to. So whether we are caught pants down on this Earth or not, when we do wrong, we must be ready and willing to seek to be forgiven, change our ways and to take responsibility for our actions… to know that our actions will have consequences. Impunity is an enemy of justice. Yet it calls onto us every day …all in the name of getting what we want. In a mind captivated by impunity, the ends justifies the means. If anything happens in the process that will be collateral damage. However, in the mind of a responsible person, the end matters just as importantly as others around me. All of it can be summarized in that golden verse in Matthew 7: 12, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. So how will you’re reaction be when impunity comes calling just as it did for the banker?

P. S. All situations and characters referred to in this article are fiction.