The I.E.B.C (Independent Electoral and Boundaries
Commission) released the 2012 listing of registered voters. The figures showed 12.7 million have
registered as voters in the country, representing 71 per cent of the target set
by IEBC. The electoral body had set the target at 18 million.
Clearly this time around voters are convinced it will be a futile effort
at the ballot box as change will not be forthcoming. Many waited until the last
minute to register, this in the hope that an alternate candidate may emerge.
My take on the Kenya at present is rather glum. In terms of everyday
life, it continues, albeit amid hardships. We are not starving as yet, but
putting food on the table takes up most of the family budget leaving precious
little for anything else. In terms of
business, some are doing well, while others are struggling. The food industry
is holding steady, from the vegetable stand through to manufacturers of
foodstuffs. The construction industry continues to grow, emphasis being on high
rise buildings for tenant occupation. The real estate industry has stalled. According
to brokers, people are not buying land at the moment. This may be due to uncertainty about the
forthcoming General Elections. Potential buyers or investors in real estate are
waiting for the outcome of the General Elections to buy land in ‘neutral areas
‘that is, places not affected by post election skirmishes.
On a lighter note, there is one business that does well here in Kenya
regardless of harsh economic times. That business is the sale of alcoholic
beverages. I have noted that every village, every small town has multiple bars
and Wines and Spirits businesses. Yet important institutions such as community
centers, where youth can learn some skills and socialize appropriately, are
lacking. Kenyans drink in good times and bad, when things are going well, they
drink to the good times and when times are bleak they drink to drown away their
sorrows, it’s a win-win situation for manufacturers and purveyors of alcoholic
beverages.
Condemned to rudderless
insipid leadership
With less than 3 months to go to the General Election, aspirants for
public office have not defined their agenda for the post election period. They
are instead locked in closed door meetings arguing over who will take what
position in the government they hope to form. Not one leader has come out to
address the concerns of the struggling Kenyan. Yet it is we who will put them
into office, the same recycled trash from 20 years ago is still promising us a
better Kenya, what complete and utter hogwash! Kenya has not progressed to its
full potential since the days of Multi-party politics, instead we have bred a
genus of a politician that has perfected the art of stealing public property and
funds meant to provide basic services and initiate development projects.
But why is this so? Why do we continue to suffer inept leadership? Why,
in a country that that has a relatively well educated population do we make
such terrible choices at the ballot box?
My take:
-Voters have become resigned to the fact that this is the way things
ought to be, call it voter fatigue. Some believe that things will not change as
it is the same people vying for office every 5 years, with nothing to show for
their years in office.
-Others think of the election period as a time ‘to eat’. They are mostly
unemployed youth who will sing the tune of moneyed politicians in the hope of
getting a handout. Others who have fallen prey to this malady are women’s
groups. Politicians target these groups as they are voter rich and are easily
swayed by a few blankets, some banknotes and bags of sugar.
-Potential great leaders are being locked out by the old guard. One way
is through the costly nomination process whereby an aspirant has to pay a hefty
registration fee to contest under the banner of a certain party. Although the
Constitution allows independent candidates, we are not at that stage where your
ideals and policies will sway the masses; the carnival type of campaigning is
still the vogue here in Kenya, complete with dancing clowns and gyrating
lasses.
-An ignorant, unaware voting populace also contributes to voter malaise.
They have been kept so intentionally by our nefarious, inane politicians. Civic
education is nonexistent in our schools and in the community. If the masses
knew what good leadership entails and the expectations once in office, maybe
then they would vote out permanently our corruption ridden politicians.
Post election prediction
I predict that many of the top positions in government will be retained
either by those already firmly entrenched or the new administration will bring
in their cronies to eat at the trough. We have a lot of qualified bureaucrats
yet they will never get to live to their potential as nepotism and tribalism is
the criteria for hiring.
I predict that life for the regular Kenyan will continue to be one of
hardship and struggle. That feeder road will not be repaired; The Police will
continue to be ill equipped, under paid and underprovided for in terms of
amenities such as housing, thus making them less effective in service
provision. The local school will not be
getting the needed supplies, overcrowding will continue thus teachers will be
hard pressed to give individual attention. Hospitals and local health centers
will be under staffed and under equipped thus increasing the misery of patients
instead of providing succor.
My final prediction and fervent wish is that there will be no post
election violence. Even if we elect the same dismal leaders, I urge all my
fellow countrymen to remain calm and keep the peace. It does not make sense for
neighbor to take arms against his neighbor for the sake of worthless
politicians who will not remember you until the next election period. Your
neighbor is whom you have to live with after the politicians drive back to
their secluded estates, so be wise and please keep the peace and remember to
vote.
