The percentage of those who are persuaded to elect questionable figures is so high that those who have reason during those seasons can only sit and watch from afar. In as much as this is the case, most citizens generally wish the country well, and after the 2007-08 post election violence, most of us prefer calmness over strife.
So whether on either side of the political divide, our opportunity to change things on the ballot is long gone. Those that will take various political and legislative offices come then is unknown for now. From various social media platforms, be it bloggers, critics, on Kenyan travel pages and university alumni pages, I gathered some thoughts on what can we do in the meantime.
We can pressurise our respective politicians to change their actions by relying heavily on the use of mass media and social media to advocate for change. We do not have to go for the ‘big fish’, lets start at the grassroots level.
Over glorifying them should stop and, instead, citizens should demand for accountability based on the manifestos that was sold to them during campaigns. On their part, citizens should also reduce dependency on politicians by avoiding handouts and excess invitations to harambee’s and endless family events.
Another way to help ourselves is through mentorship in communities. Mentors should pass precious cultural and modern lessons to those generations under them.
Privileged and not just privileged only, but wise community members in collaboration with community administration as well as religious leaders should make a point of organising community activities that foster valuable communication and spaces for members to air out their immediate needs and long term plans on self sustenance. Besides, activities that foster peace and harmony like sports, the arts and cultural activities, with the old and young, should not be overlooked.
In cities, various relevant public and private organisations and also the church, not to pray only, but to borrow most valuable academic and financial lessons from each other, can in form of networking events organise mentorship. Support each others hustles and grow cottage industries to their full potential.
Helping ourselves, for those citizens that are daring enough, if things in the country don’t change soon, leaving the country for opportunities abroad, is also an option. Opportunities abroad are said to be many, from academia, business to salaried employment. Citizens just need to have the right papers, and look for legitimate means to accomplish their different goals and ambitions.
There is the option of building our nation from far as we put pressure for change, as we demand for a better economy through lower taxes, lifting barriers to trade, a better social welfare system, peace and security and affordable basic needs.
This option of relocation is no doom at all, after all, last year, a report by the East African says that Kenya's diaspora remittances rose by 8.34 percent to $4.027 billion in 2022, closing in on exports, which brought in $5.77 billion worth of foreign currency in the same period.
Part time lecturer and communications researcher
