1National Core Values for K enya

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Introduction

A Nation’s values define a people’s identity, including who they are, what they believe in, what they stand for and how others perceive and view them. Values are fundamental beliefs of a nation guiding the actions and behavior of its citizen and exerting influence on the way the citizens relate with each other and serve and engage with other communities.

The National Values policy sets out to document a set of national values that will define and underscore the behavior and interactions of Kenyans as one nation in pursuit of the goals enshrined in Kenya Vision 2030.

Mainstreaming virtuous and ethical behavior among Kenyan citizens, getting them to live a positive and values-driven life and to hold those who live by such values in high esteem is a major challenge facing Kenya. Even though there is more ‘education, knowledge and awareness on positive values’, regrettably now more than ever before, there is apparently more greed, dishonesty, corruption, selfishness, tribalism, cronyism, nepotism, lack of integrity, poor work ethics, impunity and low patriotism. It is in recognition of the fact that this state of affairs can undermine the meaningful realization of the goals of Kenya Vision 2030, that this policy on national values has been developed.

The proposed values will be anchored under the Vison 2030

Some of the key challenges that the policy seeks to address include:• Disintegration of the family as a central unit of society • Intolerance of diversity within the society• Erosion of social etiquette• Impunity• Exclusion• Bad governance and Corruption• Disregard of ethical conduct• Diminishing national pride• Violence in society as a dispute resolution mechanism• Abuse of human rights• Non- pragmatic approach to the education system• Erosion of our social institutions• Poor work ethics• Ineffective leadership

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• Disregard for meritocracy• Inequitable distribution of resourcesThe proposed values were presented at the Elders conference and are undergoing a validation process

A quick view of the Values

1. Honouring God • Honouring God is the high respect, esteem, reverence, admiration towards or received by

God, the Creator of heaven and earth, who is the Searcher of hearts and the Witness of the person’s conscience

• Honouring God requires appreciation, love and respect towards the various authorities He has established such as parents, religious leaders, teachers and elders

• Love for God leads to love for neighbors• Honouring God is a high duty founded on God’s trustworthiness. It results in an increase

of knowledge, wisdom and understanding; in brotherly kindness, righteousness, peace, patience and love and it brings forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit. He who would honor God in truth honors God by the expression of these fruits

• The vast majority of Kenyans believe that there is a God who created all that is and to whom they will one day give an account of their lives. Kenyans believe God to be the source of all positive moral and social values

• Honouring of God is found in the opening lyrics of the National Anthem, the entirety of which is can be regarded as a prayer to God for His blessings on and protection for our Nation

• A person who honors God should live by the truth

Kenyans will be encouraged to seek God and worship him individually and collectively in forms and ways that are within the law of the land and are not offensive to others.

“I’ ll seek to cultivate a lifestyle that honours God, the Creator, while I join and encourage other citizens to honor Him too!”

Examples1. Acknowledgement and respect for religious diversity2. Treatment of all designated places of worship as sacred3. Allowing all Kenyans regular official times for worship without undue interference with other

national goals and objectives4. Encouraging parents to give religious instruction to their children5. Promotion of religious instruction of choice in public institutions of learning

Related Values and concepts: All other values are related to this core-value and issue from it.

2. Justice for all• Justice is the constant and permanent determination to give each person his or her due.

It entails upholding what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance

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with honor, standards, or law. It is the administration of law according to prescribed and accepted principles in agreement with human dignity

• Justice is the judgment involved in the determination of rights and the assignment of rewards and punishments. It demands that punishment should be proportionate to the offence and reward proportionate to work done accordingly

• A just person habitually wills fairness and equality in relation to others. As a result, justice perfects the will

• Justice guides us towards moral uprightness • Justice is not only a foundation for good governance but the essence of governance itself.

It is recognized as one of the pillars of a stable nation and an essential tool for upholding of the rule of law

“I will a lways strive to treat other K enyans justly and respect the rule of law” Examples:1. Fair and just decisions in the courts of law and wherever judgements are passed including

religious institutions, places of work, learning institutions, cultural courts etc2. Fair punishment proportionate to the offence whenever judgment is passed3. Fair distribution of resources including land4. Respect for other people’s private property, including intellectual property5. Fair salaries based on expertise, nature and amount of work done6. Employment and promotion based on merit according to the standards set and not other

unfair considerations

7. Awarding of tenders on merit

Related Values and concepts: • Fairness• Good Governance• Equity• Respect for the Rule of Law• Eradication of Corruption• Gender Equality• Meritocracy

3. Peace and Harmony• Peace is a quality describing a society or a relationship

that is operating in harmony grounded on respect for law and order. It is the tranquility arising from order

• A truly democratic society is peaceful and lives in absence of hostility

• Peace presupposes personal unity of thoughts and actions based on justice, tranquility, simplicity and love of neighbor and of God

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• Peace is found where there are healthy interpersonal and international relationships, safety in matters of social or economic welfare, the acknowledgment of equality and fairness in political relationships

• Peace is essential for development

Kenyans will be encouraged to create and maintain healthy relationships through acknowledgement of equality and fairness in order to have a peaceful co-existence regardless of our diversities.

“As far as it depends of me, I will pursue peace with everyone and I pledge to create healthy relationships with others regardless of our differences”

Examples:1. Facilitation of peace building initiatives among the various ethnic groups in Kenya2. Clear policies showing the modalities of engagement in the the community 3. Establishment of confict resolution modalities in all spheres of national life4. Training on how to establish healthy relationships in the family, neighborhood, places of

work and learning, community and the nation as a whole5. Equipping individual Kenyans, especially the children and youth, on healthy self esteem

Related Values and concepts: • Respect for Others • Reconciliation• Justice • Self-Control• Appreciation of Diversity • Tolerance• Respect for the Rights and Property of Others • Cooperation• Freedom • Harmony• Love • Concord• Forgiveness

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4. Unity in Diversity• Unity is the state of being one or united, the quality of being one in spirit, sentiment,

purpose, etc. It is the deliberate decision to work in concert in pursuit of common goals. It is an intentional willingness to allow what binds us together to take priority over what sets us apart from one another.

• Diversity is the state or quality of being different or varied. Diversity in each of us and all of us includes, but is not limited to: culture, gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, geography, lifestyle, education, income, health, physical appearance, pigmentation, language, personality, beliefs, faith, dreams, interests, aspirations, skills, professions, perceptions, and experiences.

• Unity in Diversity is an agreement for a harmonious co-existence despite our diversity.• Our diversity can be used to divide us but also can be used to enrich our Kenyan

society. Our differences should not separate us from each other, but rather we can let this diversity to bring a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity.

Unity in diversity is a choice of all of us Kenyans to work together as a team in tackling the challenges that face us as a nation despite our being different from each other. As a nation we will seek to build a common national community that is tolerant to one another and nourished by our diversities that enrich our lives.

“Despite being different from others, I will at all times work for the unity of the nation of K enya because our unity in diversity is our strength!”

Examples: 1. One constitution that expresses the common

agreement on how the nation should be governed

2. Commitment to support the legitimate government elected by all Kenyans in free and fair elections

3. Commitment to common national vision, core values, goals, and institutions by succeeding governments and generations of Kenyans

4. The public and private sectors working on a common agenda of making Kenya a better place to live.

5. Commitment of each political, ethnic group, institution and religious group working together with others in development of the nation

6. Promotion of cross cultural visits by different ethinic groups and appreciation of inter-ethnic, inter-racial and cross-cultural marriages

7. Schools and colleges open to all Kenyans and not restricted to students from one geographical area

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8. Rejection and punishment of negative, nepotism, discrimination and hate speech

9. Inclusion of the marginalized in all areas of national life

10. Promotion and encouragement of use of English and Kiswahili as languages of communication among Kenyans

Related Values and concepts: National Unity, Solidarity, Cooperation, Tolerance, National Reconciliation. Democracy, Gender Equality, Freedom of Movement, Respect for Others, Tolerance, Respect for Human Rights.

5. Responsible Citizenship – (Patriotism)• Patriotism is a devoted love, zealous support and

passionate defense of one’s country. It is about service to our country

• A true patriot believes in and loves one’s country and strives to make it the best in the world • Patriotism is about having a clear identity as a Kenyan and being proud to be one• It is essential in helping Kenyans forge a common front in pursuit of national development

A Patriotic Kenyan is one who is willing to sacrifice for, defend and promote Kenya, her people and institutions at all times.

“I love K enya and I am willing to sacrif ice my life to defend and promote her at all times as I seek to promote the laws of natural justice for all mankind!”

Examples of Patriotism1. Being and stating that you are proud to be a Kenyan2. Enlisting to defend the country in time of war3. Defending the country’s image when being tarnished 4. Giving the best service to fellow Kenyans and those residing in Kenya even when you even

are serving as a volunteer5. Offering excellent service to non-Kenyans abroad6. Promoting the country to outsiders

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7. Paying taxes 8. Cheering and supporting Kenyans on national duty for instance those in sports9. Treating other people from other nations humanly and hence becoming a good

ambassador

Related Values and concepts:Integrity, Loyalty, Courage, Service/Servant Leadership, Liberty, Rule of Law, Sharing of Power.

6. Moral Integrity • Integrity is the strength and firmness of character, a sense of honesty and truthfulness

in regard to the motivations for one’s actions. It is a quality of sound moral principles, uprightness and sincerity

• A person of integrity is considered to have a strong moral character. To maintain integrity, one must refer to truth and honesty in all decision, thoughts, action and reaction

• Integrity is a character that a person builds & maintains during a lifetime. Integrity is an ongoing experience of a collection of situations where sound decisions are made based on good judgment, discernment, wisdom & knowledge

• Integrity provides the will to refuse to engage in behavior that is corrupt, that evades responsibility, and that is morally questionable. Integrity calls for transparency and accountability in our conduct of affairs

• To have integrity, a person must base their actions upon a well-thought out framework of moral principles. What a person does should be the same as what they say

Embracing integrity will allow Kenyans to base their actions on an internally-consistent framework of principles even when it is at personal cost.

“I promise to live a morally upright life both in private and in all public interactions with fellow K enyans”

Examples1. Establishing a code of ethics/conduct by which people

in a group or institution are required to operate within 2. Working hard to earn one’s living instead of receiving

bribes3. Demanding the recognition of one’s character for approval

than demand for recognition4. Establishment of ways to punish sexually immoral relationships

with those that are not one’s spouse especially at the place of work or learning

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Related Values and concepts: • Sincerity• Honesty• Righteousness• Virtue• Transparency• Accountability• Sincerity• Truth

7. Virtue-based leadership• Virtue - based leadership is leading others

towards the common good through the practice of virtues, with a mature approach in all its aspects—judgmental, emotional, and behavioral

• Virtue - based leaders direct others not for the sake of one’s own benefit but for the benefit of those being led and allowing oneself to be held accountable. On a national level, it includes the

efficient management of national resources for the welfare of all people so that leadership becomes a service to the nation

• Leadership is not a superficial question of style, but has to do with character. It is founded on virtues; on the deepest truth about humanity: who we are as human beings… The process of becoming a leader is much the same as the process of becoming an integrated human being… Leadership is a figure of speech for centeredness, congruity, and balance in one’s life

• Virtue-based leadership grants the leader the unmistakable signs of maturity: Self-Confidence and Consistency, Psychological Stability, Joy and Optimism, a Sense of Freedom and Responsibility, Interior and Peace

In Kenya we will seek to raise and promote virtue-based leaders in all spheres of life. We will endeavor to cultivate a virtue-driven attitude to permeate throughout our society which will lead to a virtue-based leadership being observed among all leaders, to ensure that socio-economic and political goals are achieved.

“I will seek to inf lu ence others to achieve our common goals through my character more than my style or position”

Examples1. Establishment of clear guidelines and instruments to establish the moral integrity of people

before appointment to positions of leadership

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2. Training all Kenyans on virtue based leadership from primary school i.e. including it in the curriculum

3. Mandatory in-service programs on integrity for those in positions of leadership4. Establishment of laws and guidelines on how to fairly reward or punish those in leadership

depending on their integrity or lack of it respectively5. Having a Hall of Honor for those who serve with integrity in their leadership roles

Related values and concepts: • Stewardship,• Good Governance • Magnanimity• Respect for Others• Humaneness• Courtesy• Humility

8. Excellence in Work• Hard Work refers to the diligence in exerting much effort toward the accomplishment of an

assigned task with excellence. • Encompassed within this value is what is often called, ‘working smart’ which involves

thinking creatively (“outside the box”) about how to accomplish tasks more efficiently. All Kenyans should be encouraged to work hard and “work smart”.

• President Kibaki in his first Jamhuri Day speech in 2003, strongly encouraged Kenya to become known as a “working nation” and that “…the era of free things is over.”

• Without hard work, development for the individual will not occur, nor for the country as a whole. Without it, Vision 2030 and beyond will remain just a vision and not a reality.

• Hard work must be accompanied by a culture of meritocracy and justice where each one receives their due reward for their work.

A culture of hard work, working smart and production of excellent resources will be established for Kenyans from when they are still young through training and establishment mechanisms of motivating hardworking people.

“I promise to work hard and produce excellent results in everything I do”

Examples1. Training and motivating the children and youth to cultivate a culture of working hard 2. Facilitation of ready markets for whatever is produced by Kenyans3. Showing people how to ‘work smart’ by utilization of all available resources, including

information technology, to produce optimum excellent results from one’s input of hard work4. Establishment of a fair scheme of rewarding those who work hard and produce excellent

results, and/or punishment of those who are lazy and produce poor results5. Mainstreaming of performance contracting in all sectors of the economy6. Discouragement of the culture of handouts as much as possible by giving opportunities to

Kenyans to earn their living

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Related values and concepts• Determination• Discipline• Creativity• Entrepreneurship• Empowerment

9. Proper Respect for Everyone• Respect means to feel high regard for; to honour; to admire. But beyond mere feelings, it

means to treat someone or something with proper dignity• Respect is important at all levels of society. A society in which there is proper respect for

everyone and everything will be a society of harmony and peace and a place where development can take place

• Traditional African cultures have generally encouraged showing proper respect for others. But this value is being eroded in our modern times

• As a testimony to the importance of respect in society, take note of the many contexts in which respect should be shown: Respect for others, for authority, for elders, for tradition, for the community, for family, for life, for diversity, for the opposite sex, for God and religion(s), for human rights, for the marginalized, for the environment, to name a few

In Kenya we will seek to inculcate proper respect for everyone, others’ property and for the rule of law of the land in order to build a harmonious and peaceful society.

“I will strive to give proper respect to authorities, other people, their properties and God’s creation in general”

Examples1. Respect for the elderly by rising in their presence

and giving them priority to be offered services in public offices

2. Respect for life demands the protection of life from conception to natural death

3. Respect for the poor, the weak and marginalized will mean establishment of national and institutional policies incorporating their rights

4. Respect for other people’s property e.g. If one respects his neighbour, he will not burn his neighbour’s house down simply because his neighbour is from another ethnic community

5. Respect for the rule of law in all spheres of national life e.g. If one respects the rule of law, he/she will not try to corrupt law-enforcement officers

Related Values and Concepts• Honoring God

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• Affirmative Action• Appreciation of Diversity• Humaneness• Unity• Justice

10. Loving-Kindness• Loving-kindness the quality of being warmhearted, considerate, humane and sympathetic

to others. It is active interest in others with a view to being gracious or merciful. It is to be gracious or merciful

• Loving-kindness is based on the golden rule: ‘Do to others what you would have them do to you.’ It is the act of considering other Kenyans as yourself

• Loving-kindness is achieved by reflecting on another person, not in their role as a relative or friend, but simply as another “you”, with the same feelings as you--the same desire for happiness, the same fear of suffering. This will give you greater insight into how to truly help someone

• Loving-kindness aids in opening up one’s relationships and giving them deeper meaning

Through Loving-kindness, Kenyans will seek to positively utilize the concept of pulling together of resources as introduced by the Founding Father of the nation, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. This will help everyone in the community to feel loved and will ensure the needs of the weak, poor, sick and marginalised are taken care of.

“I will seek to be loving and kind to my fellow K enyans by being available for them and meeting their needs according to the measure of my well-being”

Examples• Pulling resources together to help one another through

socially accepted fundraising systems • Giving and receiving forgiveness after one has

confessed and asked for forgiveness• Being considerate for the weak, poor and marginalised in

society• Being benevolent to poor widows and orphans

Related Values• Benevolence • Charity• Philanthropy • Generosity

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