As a country, we have undeniably developed an unhealthy relationship with politics.
This is detectable in the game that neglects truth, decency and the real pressing issues of the day.
Yet, what is forgotten is the hefty price for toleration of this political foulness and the reality that true and proper change will never come to our nation until and unless we discard and inter this deceitful and backward political culture. There are abundant illustrations that point out the severe harms negative politics have on the country.
One is the story of how our national GDP was once at par with some of the now developed countries such as Singapore and South Korea. We have since been left behind primarily because of the distraction by self-regarding, vendetta-driven, uncreative and inconsequential politics that is still slive in our country today.
In effect, there is fear Kenya may end up losing its substantial regional standing to its neighbouring competitors due to its continued political missteps.
The multiparty era that prefigured a new way of doing politics was also confounded by the damaging misbehaviours in national politics.
In preference to positioning strong and distinguishing ideologies to seek power and popularity, most of the parties are now more of regional tribal movements.
It would be expecting too much from many of these parties to think they are the outfits that will unite and move Kenya forward.
Their loyalties are principally selfish and communal in the sense of exploiting people as a statistical convenience instead of being sincerely occupied by the shared collective interests of Kenyans. What is more absurd and unfeeling is to see some of the tribal leaders and parties coalescing on the basis they are marginalised, while questioning the devolution funds going to the vast ASAL.
Northeastern is among the regions that have, without doubt, been marginalized since colonial times. The region still lags behind and will take years to be on equal development foothold with other regions.
By presenting such kind of narrative of misplaced superiority complex is an indication of the deep-seated inequality our undesirable national culture has produced.
The bloodbath of 2007-08 and the course change that it was supposed to introduce in as far as constitutionalism and equitable development is concerned is more theory than practise, thanks to the existing deleterious political culture.
Therefore, if something has to change in our governance, it must be the soul of our political culture.
Hassan is a sociopolitical commentator in Garissa county
