A philosophical analysis of Kierkegaard’s concept of authenticity in reference to corruption in Kenya

Abstract

This was a study of corruption in Kenya using Kierkegaard’s concept of authenticity as a category necessary for the eradication of this menace leading to a corrupt free Kenya. Corruption is virtually responsible for many socio-economic and political problems that beset a country such as post election violence of 2007/2008, bad governance, dishonesty, moral and environmental degradation and many other social ills. The study assumed that the search for authenticity in human existence can reel out this absurd malaise in shaping personal destiny. Authenticity is a mark of an individual’s freedom expressed in engagement and commitment to the divine will (Kierkegaard). The objectives of the study were to critically assess Kierkegaard’s concept of authenticity in reference to corruption in Kenyan politics from 2007 to 2013; and to propose a conceptual framework model for eradication of corruption in Kenya. The study adopted research premises as: corruption is rampant and prevalent in Kenya’s political arena and affects the socio- economy of Kenya leading to inauthentic existence; that, Kierkegaard’s elucidation of the concept of authenticity can be used to eradicate corruption menace leading to a corrupt free Kenya. The study was qualitative in approach and library based research in which philosophical approaches such as existential, phenomenological and analytic were employed in data collection and analysis while Socratic meiotic and observation methods were used to obtain first hand information. This study adopted a theoretical framework of Plato’s theory of knowledge within which he espouses an ideal society. The study has shown that through authenticity we can discover our individual talents and thereby make a difference that is beneficial to oneself and society in minimizing or rooting out the causes of corruption. The work is viable source of reference to scholars of existential philosophy and those in –charge of the common good in the society. It is recommended in this work that banking mode of education, ethnic based political parties and those that lack party ideology should be abolished while both co-intentional and problem-posing modes of education, study of existentialism and election of visionary leaders should be enhanced in Kenya. Hence, the elucidation of existential philosophy if well applied can liberate Kenyans from corruption through personal authenticity, reverence of Supreme Being, authentic leadership and governance by undergoing proper education can lead to achieving authentic human existence.