Kenyan elections mean absolutely nothing and lack internal efficiency if corrupt cartels, in collusion with the IEBC, can intercept and manipulate results forms, and then transmit altered materials, fraudulently, to the public portal.
The Bible tells us that in Israel the Jubilee year (50 years) prevented anyone from holding any purchased property such as land for more than 49 years. Such property was reverted to the owner in the Jubilee year.
If we take a cue from the above explanation, leadership has been rented to two communities for close to Jubilee year (50) plus nine years.
Now it is right for them to use their strength of numbers to choose a good leader from another community for peace to prevail.
If leadership is not shared and with the shortcomings people have experienced over the years like the winner- take-all, less distributive justice, temptations of amassing wealth and corruption; such leadership domination is bound to bring about unrest. There is need for a way to mutually ameliorate the current hegemonic domination.
Some feel that such domination and uncalculated pronouncements can precipitate hatred and the forging of nationalistic movements in which people may pursue self-determination towards becoming independent.
Somebody commented that after 59 years of independence, the hustler movement has accelerated the pace of coalescing and retribalising to form a common front of the Kalenjin-Kikuyu Kwanza (KKK) detente in a bid to alienate the rest of the communities and form their own nation. This is apparent in a smokescreen and is yet to metamorphose.
But Azimio la Umoja, by its entitlement, does not seem to have a sectarian agenda. It is a movement started by Kenyan people who aspire to foster a non-divisive agenda for a united prosperous and democratic country.
Let me focus on the Kenyan elections and certain provocative thoughts.
When campaigns are carried out and elections are done, some aspirants instead of propagating their ideologies bribe voters to win their favour. Such habit is unethical, unsustainable and needs to be deterred.
History reminds us of a man of conscience and integrity like Nelson Mandela who resisted apartheid in South Africa. He fought against those who practised apartheid and got exiled to Robben Island for 28 years due to his commitment to liberate South Africa.
Similarly, in many parts of Africa the imperial powers maintained political domination. Despite this, they met resistance across the continent because they upheld liberty, fraternity and equality for themselves only.
There are some typical examples of African resistance worthy of mention. First, when all seemed lost for the Asante because of European domination and their King was exiled, the Asante rose up putting themselves under Queen Yaa Asantewaa. This lady led them in a fight against the imperial powers in the Asante war. Asantewaa fought back.
Second, when we are caught in a situation of economic devastation due to those who are corrupt amongst us, we have to take up a liberative role by driving out the corrupt from all forms of leadership. Any country that wants to grow economically should not allow itself to be led by those who are corrupt.
Worldwide, an ever-increasing number of leaders have been dogged by greed and the propensity to acquire land, wealth and all forms of possessions. Kenya is one of the leading countries in such graft.
In this regard, Azimio has made a commitment to have zero tolerance for corruption. It has also made a commitment to participate in the life of the people by pledging to provide social protection money for those who are not working and the vulnerable in society. These should not be just promises but need to be actualised.
The church is also called upon by the gospel imperative not to remain neutral. They have to take the historic option of standing by the side of the people who are fighting against the corrupt. They are supposed to be on the side of the poor, the deprived, the unemployed and the vulnerable.
For the liberation of our people from the corrupt leaders, we must take a cue from some important historical personalities. Jean-Jacques Rousseau in his writing on Social Contract said, “Man is born free but everywhere is in chains.”
We have to be ready to break such chains. The French Revolution broke the chains. This revolution was born with its banner and battle for liberty fraternity and equality for all men and women.
It must be noted that Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels raised the flag proclaiming, “Workers of the world unite, and you have nothing to lose, but your chains”. These revolutions, French and Communist, were built on the basic assumption that men and women are born free.
The French Revolution should inspire you to unite and liberate Kenya from the corrupt who have destroyed our economy. We have to rise up and fight corruption. Kenya is not destined to suffer economically forever. There is hope in growing our economy if we stand up and fight against graft that is destroying our economy.
University lecturer
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