A new Start for Kenya?

The enthusiasm felt after the democratic wave that swept over Africa in early 1990’s and introduced multi party election in Kenya was short lived, as commentators soon started to realise the transition was not a linear and the country either lay by or lost its way. To most, it transformed more into a semi-authoritarian regime and by the end of the millennium hopes towards (a liberal) democracy had dwindled. It has been a murky and bumpy ride for Kenya, but the positivism and enthusiasm was soon to re-emerge when the country promulgated a new constitution in 2010.

This bred a new sense of renewed hope and togetherness across the country. In fact, Kenyans were voted as the most hopeful people in the world. What the executive failed (or choose not) to realise is that the new paradigm had robbed them of their ‘power’. It had altered the balance of power between the state and the society in favour of the latter. It had strengthened the judicial and parliamentary institutions, but more importantly empowered Wanjiku well beyond the metaphorical one vote anchored in representative democracy. It is no wonder decisions made by the judiciary and parliament continue to catch the executive by surprise. No one would have ever imagined a city court issuing an order to arrest a sitting president; nor a legislature rescinding executive appointments. Or a foreign court acting upon the trangress of rights of the pawns. Or even a stronger civil society that articulates and enforces standards of public morality, performance as well as accountability, more recently demostrated by the successful calls for the ICC acussed to relinguish their public offices. All these are less issues to do with power relations than they’re checks on the health of our democracy.

However, besides these newest developments in the right direction, a dark cloud still hovers over the country. Troubling is the deeply rooted corruption, impunity, clientelism, neopatrimonialism, egocentrism, tribalism, and unjustified politicisation of government agendas, and the little impetus in the society to fight these social vices. A civilised community requires men and women who respect each other; people who care for each other’s welfare; citizens who don’t look at each other through tribal, class, race or even religion lens; leaders who don’t have to buy or corrupt their ways but rather motivated by their subjects wellbeing.

We will not relent our efforts and dreams till we see this Kenya, where everyone has equal opportunities and leaders put the interests of the masses before their interest; a big Kenya where politicians don’t sacrifice the lives and properties of citizens to achieve their personal means. A precedence has been set, for our and future generations. Whoever said Kenya has changed forever was spot on. What we are witnessing is not leaking away of sovereignity but hollowing of executive power. Never again will politicians use the state power we have vested into them against us. This I say to you…