JAMILA'S MEMO: No trust, then what

The uproar over the proposed Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia is perhaps the latest and clearest example of the widening trust deficit between government and the people it governs.

Listen carefully to what many Kenyans are saying. They are not debating the science of Ebola or its dangers. They are not questioning the need for preparedness. They are not even discussing international cooperation. Their question is much simpler. Why was this happening in secret?

If this is such a good idea, why was it not openly discussed from the beginning? It’s not the facility itself that’s the issue now, but trust. Trust is built when governments are transparent and when citizens feel informed rather than managed. Trust is built when difficult decisions are explained before they are implemented, not after they are exposed.

Unfortunately, many Kenyans now seem to approach government explanations with suspicion rather than confidence. And that suspicion did not emerge overnight. It has been accumulating over time. From promises that never materialize, projects announced but never completed, policies introduced without adequate public participation and decisions that appear to be made first and explained later.

In fact, a new TIFA survey released today appears to confirm just how deep this trust deficit has become. According to the survey, nearly three out of every four Kenyans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Even more telling, virtually every major public institution recorded significantly higher levels of distrust than trust. Parliament, the police, political parties, county governments, the Presidency and even independent institutions all recorded negative ratings.

That finding is important because it suggests that what we are witnessing is not simply opposition to one project; it is a broader crisis of confidence. Citizens are increasingly questioning not just what the government is doing, but why it is doing it and whether they are being told the whole truth.

This is a result of Broken promises. Unanswered questions. Policies introduced first and explained later. Viewed through that lens, the public reaction becomes easier to understand. The result is that even when the government may have legitimate reasons for a decision, many citizens are no longer willing to listen.

That is why the debate over Laikipia is much bigger than Ebola. It is a referendum on credibility. And perhaps the most worrying question for the government today is not whether Kenyans support the facility. It is whether Kenyans still believe what they are being told. The lesson from this controversy is simple. Citizens do not merely want to be informed. They want to be respected. And respect begins with honesty, transparency and genuine public engagement. Without those, even the best policy will struggle to find public acceptance.