From what I have learned about Kenyan politics, regime change cannot solve the country’s issues, and it has never done so.
When the authoritarian Daniel Moi came into power and began his dictatorship, we chanted “Moi must go” to demand his removal. He eventually left, and Kibaki took over. However, during Kibaki’s first year in office, he performed poorly, which led Kenyans to demand his removal by chanting “Kibaki must go,” often wishing for Moi’s return. After Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta was elected, but his government turned out to be even worse than the previous ones, prompting us to chant “Uhuru must go.” When Uhuru retired and was replaced by Ruto, we only lasted two years before starting to say “Ruto must go.” This cycle may continue indefinitely, leaving Kenya without a capable leader.
So, what should we do? I have a solution. First, Kenyans tend to be emotional when voting and often get swept up in trending occurrences. We should stop voting based on emotions and refrain from removing a bad leader without considering the consequences. Instead, we should focus on electing quality leaders, as we are the ones who put them in office in the first place. If things are not going well after we’ve elected them, we should correct their actions rather than remove them. Before casting a vote, we need to examine the candidate’s history and track record. Let’s not be reckless and suggest we would rather vote for a cow than Ruto. Voting for a cow out of frustration will not solve our problems.
We also need to address some harsh realities. The Kikuyu community has often rallied against Raila Odinga due to prejudices, suggesting that Luos are uncircumcised and incapable of leadership. This attitude contributes to Kenya’s problems, as we overlook capable leaders simply because of their background.
It is crucial to vote for a good leader rather than just trying to vote out a bad one without considering who will take their place.
My thoughts Ngesa Philip
