Pundits should come out in swarms and guide on contagious issues

Pius Maundu

@piusmaundu

Pundits should come out in swarms and guide on contagious issues

For quite sometime now, I have noted that professionals are running away from their responsibilities. Its not common to see professionals contributing to the regular columns on newspapers. 

Not even when the public is at a loss on what direction to take, say on GMOs. This should not be the case. 

An article by Korir Sing’oe (Daily Nation, July 25) has reinvigorated my conviction on the need for professionals to rise up to the occasion.   

Titled “School principals have no legal right to withhold certificates from graduates,” the article wades into an ongoing seesaw pitting politicians, at one hand, and teachers, on the others. 

Sing’oe, a legal adviser of the Deputy President, supplies the social and legal implications of principals withholding KCPE and KCSE certificates.  Notably, he writes:

“Essentially then, high schools that withhold certificates are transforming the legal character of these certificates from documentary evidence of an individual’s academic performance to a debt instrument.”  

Having said that, the writer goes ahead to explain how withholding the certificates could entrench inequality in the society. 

One would easily rubbish Sing’oei’s op-ed as an attempt to drum up support for policies by the establishment. I did not look at it that way. 

Professional perspective is crucial in untangling potentially contagious issues.  By professionals, I mean those people engaged or thoroughly trained and qualified in a given occupation. In this context these are, among others, physicians, engineers, scientists, sleuths, lawyers, writers, and chefs. 

To my estimation, they have left the press to others. One can only hope that they have other public spheres where they give commentary on public issues. But is that the case?

When professionals withdraw from commenting on matters affecting the public, professionals are giving room to subjectivity to reign. Technically, they are allowing mules shuttling politics to call the shots. 

Pundits should not act on a whim when things take the wrong route. Instead, they should shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that politicians, and groups with vested selfish interests, do not  chart the way forward on matters of public interest. 

Its high time professionals assumed rose up to the occasion and lead the nation to the right direction.