Once upon a time, the lion was eating animals to the point of extinction. The animals agreed to send one of them to be eaten each day, giving them time to reproduce.
One day, the rabbit was chosen, but he tricked the lion by saying another lion had eaten the rest of the animals. The lion demanded to be shown where the other lion was, so the rabbit took him to a well and asked him to peep inside. The lion attacked his reflection, thinking it was the other lion, and fell into the well, drowning.
Over the last couple of weeks, the opposition has been holding rallies ahead of the demonstrations that took place yesterday in Nairobi. During the rallies, the opposition has kept insisting on electoral justice while complaining that the government is not working.
It should not be lost to anyone that the demands on the election were addressed by the Supreme Court last year and Kenyans moved on. This is therefore a waste of time for most Kenyans who are waiting for the government to deliver on its mandate.
The opposition, like any other Kenyan, has the right to assemble and raise concerns about the state of the nation. However, this must be done in a logical and objective manner looking at all factors that have led to a slowed economy, locally and globally.
The high cost of living is not only experienced in Kenya. Global economies are struggling through what is seen as a recession affecting all countries. It is therefore important to give the government time to put all plans in place to ensure that Kenyans are cushioned against the adverse effects of a struggling economy coupled with an unending drought.
Even as the opposition continues to complain and disrupt the lives of Kenyans, it is instructive to note that the government has been working.
Let us take the example of Pakistan, which last week classified tea as an essential import for the Asian nation. This will benefit Kenya and Kenyan farmers in many ways as we export 50 percent of our tea to Pakistan.
And the fact that the transactions are to be done in US dollars means that this will help in stabilising the shilling against the dollar. This good news has been drowned by the noise coming from the opposition.
As the drought continues, food production has really suffered and, consequently, the cost of living has gone up with high commodity prices. The government has allowed duty-free importation of maize and rice, which will help stabilise the prices of food.
Additionally, after the launch of individual Hustler Fund loans last year, this year, the government launched loans for small businesses thus increasing access to affordable credit for Kenyans.
These few points are to illustrate that the government is not aloof to the problems facing Kenyans, which is important for us to appreciate. If we are able to appreciate this, we realise that the government has achieved a lot in six months and just needs the space to work.
The opposition needs to realise that it is counterproductive to keep people in the streets instead of having them actively work to build the nation. Rallies and demos only serve to disrupt normal operations and create fear for business people who should be focused on their work.
The opposition is actually part of the government through Parliament and should be at the forefront of ensuring that its MPs are actively participating in the parliamentary agenda that helps the country.
Instead of spending time in rallies and the streets, opposition MPs should be in Parliament formulating policies that can help the country navigate the challenges that it is facing.
The opposition has a stake in a country that is stable and productive. It is therefore counterproductive to continue disrupting the government and Kenyans through demos and rallies.
If the government is not able to fulfil its mandate, all Kenyans, including supporters of the opposition, will suffer equally with those that support the government. The opposition must therefore get wiser and help the country move forward.