Typical career path

Professionals the world over have played a great role in the development of nations and by extension, the global community. An engineer friend of mine who I stayed close to during my post-graduate studies in the UK epitomises a professional’s character and career path. He had a strict working routine, loved delivering on his assignments and would loudly agonise over any technical setbacks. He delivered on big projects within and outside the UK with glee. He later moved on to the Middle East where he oversaw the designs and implementation of mega construction projects. I don’t ever recall us spending much time dwelling on the sticky issues of UK politics, much as he kept current and shared his political preferences routinely. Alongside, he took his children through school and onto professional career paths too. Now he spends quite some time touring the world, happy with his domestic and professional achievements.

My friend’s career path helps to illustrate why professionals the world over are revered. When they commit to their callings, they’re of tremendous help. They can contribute a lot to humankind. Be it in construction, energy, medicine or law. They drive accounting and banking systems. Chains of professionals have helped nations to exploit minerals and other natural resources, along with processing them for consumption and development. Professionals have developed curricula for schools, colleges and universities, overseen their implementation and review in a changing world. Professionals are driving land governance processes and the dynamic information technology domain too. And we might in future live on other planets, courtesy of their relentless research in space technology. When in their best element, professionals are a great resource for any nation.

Ethical professionals a national asset

Kenya has had its better days with professionals and professionalism. In its early pre- and immediate post-independence days, Kenya groomed professionals who went ahead to transform Kenya and Eastern Africa. And they were men and women of integrity and valour when deployed on national assignments. They engrossed themselves and took up leadership of our medical and engineering schools at the University of Nairobi. They grew the law school to international acclaim. The Kabete veterinary and Agriculture schools were renowned for giving us professionals who transformed our agriculture and livestock industries. Graduates who developed and successfully oversaw our finance and accounting systems for years were groomed then. Unwavering professionals managed our news industry too.

And all these professionals held themselves with integrity, a sense of pride and achievement within society. No wonder they influenced generations of high performing high school graduates to enter professional courses and succeed them. Society also reciprocated. It honoured professionals in various ways. Teachers, lecturers, engineers, doctors, accountants, surveyors and lawyers were very highly regarded and respected wherever they worked. In fact, such professionals would always enter the public service a grade or two higher than the routine public servant.

But I’ve watched the face of the Kenyan professional change dramatically over the years. As I served as a surveyor in public then private sector, chaired the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya, coordinated the integrity and ethics committee of the Association of Professional Societies in East Africa and while working with other professionals at continental and global level. These tasks have given me an opportunity to observe and reflect upon professionals in our region and country.

Unethical and self-serving practices

There was a time professionals would put their foot down and ensure that the right things were done. And they would never bend rules or be influenced through cash handouts or threats of dismissal. They would be heard and their decisions respected. Then came a time that our politics went a little overboard and began to compromise professionals! They started to help cut corners. They began to play political ball and kowtow to politicians, their requests and influence. Soon, the line got too blurred and professionals no longer looked a big deal to those who knew the excesses they were responsible for.

It got worse as more and more professionals began to use their intellect and high positions to drive irregularities. They promoted self-gain without much regard to public interest. Little wonder that today we agonise over trillions of Kenya shillings in off-shore accounts diverted from our economy. We agonise over lost, undervalued or irregularly privatized movable and immovable public assets. We agonise over trillions of misappropriated public money. In most of these, paper trail audits will usually reveal the commissions or omissions by some in the cadres of entrusted professionals. This isn’t how professionals should apply themselves and is absolutely regrettable.

Restore confidence in professionalism

But I think professionals in Kenya have now an excellent opportunity to redeem themselves and help to reboot Kenya. The newly initiated drive to recover lost public assets, restore credible systems and punish the guilty is godsend. Well-meaning professionals should seize it and support the restoration of a commitment to public duty and the protection of public assets. It will also make them feel a lot better about themselves, and restore public confidence in professionals and professionalism once more. Let professional associations also play ball.

Dated 20^th October, 2018