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KAMICHORE MUTINDIRA: Voter apathy a wake-up call

There is an apparent lack of patriotism among the general population

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by KAMICHORE MUTINDIRA

Realtime02 November 2021 - 12:01
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In Summary


•Voting is now viewed as an exercise in futility. The vote no longer counts and those in power can do anything with little regard to the electorate.

•The moneyed boys have declared who will become president and they will push this agenda through.

The ongoing voter registration has not ignited the enthusiasm expected from the majority of youths who have never voted.

The one-week extension will only leave the entity with an egg on its face owing to the disparity in the registered numbers in comparison to the targets.

There is an apparent lack of patriotism among the general population where people no longer talk about their country with pride. Many detest the misbehaviour of their fellow countrymen.

Voting is now viewed as an exercise in futility. The vote no longer counts and those in power can do anything with little regard to the electorate.

The moneyed boys have declared who will become president and they will push this agenda through.

With campaigns being an economic issue, the leaders will marshal their support to a particular individual who will reward them with government tenders.

There is also the don’t care attitude by the government and politicians.

The killings going on in Laikipia have not nudged their conscience to seek lasting solutions.

The lack of purchasing power among the populace and the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities makes citizens loathe political talk.

People are seeing the same recycled old politicians telling the same old stories on fighting corruption, accelerating development and bringing goodies.

Paradoxically, some have been implicated in the embezzlement of funds and curtailing of justice.

The politicians have become jittery over the low voter registration turnout.

A youth registers as a voter in Muhuru Bay ward, Nyatike constituency.

This trend threatens their continuity in power while staring at a looming election that lacks euphoria or a strong party wave that swept most of them into positions.

However, all is not lost and they can tilt the tides and rejuvenate themselves.

They should ensure that the rule of law is allowed to govern the country.

For instance, all those caught stealing government funds should be jailed without bail and pay heavy penalties.

Furthermore, there should be no godfathers to broker jobs and tenders in government as implied today.

Our leaders are only engaging in criticizing the economic models of their rivals without providing formidable alternatives.

We have epic political parties with no ideology other than the popularity of the party leader.

The greatest undoing of the Kenyan voter is that we elect individuals who have no ideological agenda.

Once they are in a position of power, they do not know which direction to take and the electorate have no way to hold them accountable.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris

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