Hey friends,
If you keenly followed the recently held Kiambaa-Muguga by-elections, you would have noticed that elections in Kenya are probably not about the electorate. The campaigns as always were full of red herrings and empty promises to woo the electorate into voting for political candidates. The interests and needs of the citizens felt far and out of reach to the political leaders with electorates being vehicles needed to get the politicians to office. As you might have also noticed by now, the upcoming 2022 election is not about leaders who want to serve Kenyans, it is a show of power. Who is the absolute ethnic kingpin? Who controls the masses? Which combination of leaders forms the best alliance?
With no form of care or action on the pertinent issues facing us including a proper economic recovery strategy, ways of cushioning citizens amidst a pandemic, implementation of two thirds gender rule, unemployment amidst others, it is only natural that we feel helpless and frustrated and even uninterested in whatever happens next. Understandably so, even if you wanted to do something about it, politics remains complex and the fact that it forms the basis for policy making and decisions made by the government of the day makes it more complicated. However, I believe that becoming politically empowered is one step in the right direction of getting out of this frustration and helplessness.
How to start:
Become aware of what is happening in your country.
-This is probably the first and the most crucial. You can only fix a problem that you properly understand. And no Twitter is not enough a medium to understand your constitution or how governance works. Move past the simplification of scrolling past tweets and listen to actual news and discourses, read up on gazette bills and academic articles on how politics actually works.
Realize that groups hold power.
-I have written before that voting is not the only key to political change. No single individual holds power and we would be hoodwinking ourselves to think that complaining about the government while sitting at the comfort our homes counts for creating a solution. Having a consolidated voice and mobilizing our peers to take action is where the real power lies.
Choose to be part of change.
-As cliché as that statement sounds, part of being politically empowered is realizing that change (political, economic, or social) does not happen in a vacuum. Our lives are inter-woven into politics and carving a niche in whatever field you are to make positive change is an actual mark that you are most probably politically empowered.
Have a great week ahead!
Ngoiri.
Interesting Stuff This Week
Jamii Newsletter - As you might have noticed, I moved to a new newsletter platform. This move was inspired by my friend who writes over at Jamii Newsletter. The newsletter is on finance and it offers great and simplified tips on everything money.
Article - I have read and re-read this article a couple of times now over the years and it has formed the basis of my understanding on politics and my role in it. I would highly highly recommend it.
Notes to keep
He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god. -Aristotle.