Regional politics a stumbling block to national development and cohesion

How well does your member of the county assembly, Parliament, senator, governor, and woman representative know your problems?

After 2002, Kenyans had high hopes and optimism for the future. The State at that time appeared to represent the aspirations of the people.

People stood with the government in many policy pronouncements such as the famous “Michuki laws” that aimed at bringing order to public transport. Citizens helped to arrest corrupt public officials. The civic values of the moment obliged those in public offices to behave.

Perhaps this could be the reason Kenya witnessed phenomenal infrastructural growth during the Kibaki regime.

Then political squabbles took centre stage and government officials went back to their bad old ways as tribalism and corruption thrived. The ghost of tribalism and nepotism seems to have strangled the Kenyan spirit.

We now stand at a juncture where Kenya is desperately in need of a transformative leadership. A leadership that is in touch with the daily toils of those at the bottom of society.

The political leadership, both at the national and county levels, seems to be out of touch with the aspirations of most Kenyans. Their performance in legislation and execution seems incapable of effectively responding to the problems of the downtrodden such as better living standards and employment for the youth.

Of what value is time spent legislating on titles for those in political office, or order of importance of public officials, or who can fly the national flag? Of what value are laws on what kind of clothes to wear? Instead of elected leaders focusing on economic inequalities, the resources of the State seem to be a preserve of just a few.

There is growing zealotry along political lines and today most of our political parties primarily represent ethnic struggles. What is the social basis of the interest these political parties represent?

Some criminal gangs seem to be using religion and places of worship to not only steal but mobilise religious strife. Zealots are intent on recreating an imperial state.

The hope Kenyans had in devolution has been subverted and consumed by the insidious vices of nepotism, corruption, and politics of marginalisation.

The devolved system of governance is weak in addressing the problem of unemployment, rural and informal settlement poverty, and investments in skills development.

BLACKMAILING

The MCAs are busy blackmailing county authorities to throw away millions of shillings on purposeless foreign tours. The political leadership is paralysed by cartels plundering public resources and in every major public project there are claims of corruption and disregard for due process.

We seem trapped in the misfortunes of the past. A lot of national energies and resources are being wasted on witchhunts and blame game, for example the ongoing land politics and insecurity.

Political intolerance is crippling the stability and civil liberties of the people to the extent that some of us are actively endorsing authoritarian rule, emboldening the government to push through laws that might curtail civil liberties.

In normal societies, governments are supposed to promote initiatives that help people to develop self-reliance, to have enough opportunities to actualise their life goals and not be dependent on the State.

With these challenges of deep-seated social divisions, political intolerance, and a non-responsive political class, what options do Kenyans have to improve their lot? What should the people do? Our political parties are ethnic-based.

The zoning of electoral districts along ethnic blocs has helped buttress predatory and dictatorial attitudes that could be responsible for low public participation in public affairs.

Like a one-party state, single-party counties could easily violate individual liberties, especially those of minority voices, to have equal say in decision-making.

The political culture of regionalism is an obstacle to our nation’s integration. With the current political intolerance and authoritarian attitudes, it is difficult for political parties to ensure better service delivery, transparency, participation, and accountability. The challenge for counties is how to help reduce ethnic cleavages.

Mr Chiliswa is the programmes coordinator, Jesuit Hakimani Centre. ([email protected])