And true to their word, demonstrators engaged in their usual run battles with the police, and a lot of property was damaged. However, of all things that we take pride in terms of recent developments and major infrastructure, a section of the Nairobi Expressway was damaged.
Nairobi was the epicentre of the protests and property and infrastructure damage was a major feature of the protests. Significantly, as a result of nationwide mass civil disobedience, social media and mainstream TV channels were awash with videos of a few unruly demonstrators pushing down the metallic barriers on the expressway and also breaking the flower pots that decorate a section of the road.
Kenyans seem tired with the governance in the country, people are struggling and there is rising discontentment with the rising cost of living, businesses are closing and jobs are not easy to come by for many. In other words, lots of promises seem to have gone down the drain after the new government took over office.
When citizens are tired, they listen to whoever seems to empathise with their situation, and in this case, when called upon by the opposition to protest, they do.
Since protesters are never armed, whenever called upon to disobey, unfortunately, some of the demonstrators pour their frustrations on public and even private infrastructure and businesses. To them the have nothing to lose.
In light of this, we need to have an honest conversation with ourselves as we put up policies on the economy and development, and factor in how peace and development go hand in hand.
Any country with frequent protests cannot be said to be peaceful. The level of peace that development needs is be absolutely high. It needs to be high enough to the level where citizens are content enough with the economy and the social welfare that their country provides.
For instance, Iceland has retained its position as the most peaceful country since the inaugural study of the Global Peace Index in 2008. It excels in domains such as keeping off domestic and international conflict and ensuring societal safety and security.
As a result, the country can focus on green and blue development efforts, linking sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems to improving livelihoods and shared well-being.
Let me demonstrate further how peace and development goes hand in hand from a very simplistic view. In societies where positive peace prevails, all sectors, driven by the citizens or foreign investors, help bring about the positive economic, political and social factors that lead to sustainable development.
Businesses, therefore, pay their workers competitive wages and mainly they do not participate in bribery. The biggest beneficiaries are the citizens of the country, big trickle-down effects in terms of investments follow and there is generally public goodwill.
What was seen on maandamano Wednesday cannot happen in such a scenario.
The President says he needs more time to lower the cost of living, but how long is the question. A lot of money is being spent to control the youth who are demonstrating.
But what if this same money and more can be spent on the basic needs, lower taxes and keep the youth and the workforce of nearly 24 million people afloat as the country figures out our a way towards development, hence prosperity. Doing this and giving hope is a way out and will definitely create a peaceful environment, conducive for development.
Part-time lecturer and communications researcher
