A lot happened in 2016, let us make this year memorable
Police officers patrol outside Parliament Buildings on December 28, 2016 when senators were debating changes to the election laws. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Welcome to a 2017 that will most certainly be filled with political activity.
- Everything must be done to avoid such an occurrence. Happy New Year!
The year 2016 ended with a bang. At some point the Speaker of the National Assembly was blocked from entering Parliament to conduct the business for which it had been convened.
That same morning a female MP was captured on camera heaping insults on the Head of State.
The law that was in contention was amended by the House anyway and now we wait to see what happens this year.
The most interesting matter to watch will be what happens to the operations of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and whether it will be allowed to work as it should.
As we all know and appreciate, elections are an important component of the democratic process though perhaps not the only one.
The idea of elections — if and when they are properly conducted — is to give citizens a chance to pronounce on the kind of people they want to be led by.
Indeed it is an opportunity for citizens to pass a verdict on how they want to be governed and they do this by electing a government they think would be interested in their well being.
There are serious challenges facing Kenyans and which must be addressed by all of us but in which whatever government that is in place must take a leading role.
The health sector is currently in turmoil.
Our education system is in the process of being given a face lift.
Infrastructure around the country is a major challenge and many places are in dire need of proper roads and other forms of opening such areas to the market.
Water is life and over fifty years since independence there are still many parts of Kenya where it is still only a dream.
One can go on and on about the things that need to be focused on and which require serious concentration for the good of all Kenyans.
We are of course a very special breed when it comes to political behaviour.
On close examination, it is as though we are in a permanent campaign mood.
No sooner does one General Election end than the campaign for the next one begins.
In a lot of the civilised democracies political campaigns before elections take only a short period of time.
The rest of the time is dedicated to work for the good of citizens.
Welcome to a 2017 that will most certainly be filled with political activity.
The biggest concern for some of us is that a section of our political class can become reckless at times like this and even incite their followers to a point of violent behaviour.
Everything must be done to avoid such an occurrence. Happy New Year!
