“The irony of it all? People re-elect the same leaders that steal away their freedoms, and then lament till the following electoral cycle, where they make the same mistake again
By Edwin Githinji
A Nation, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a group of people bound together by a common history, descent, culture or language, inhabiting a country or a territory.
Kenya, and many other African countries, are a fit to this definition, as they possess one or more of the above criteria used to define what a nation is. However, this scenario has been under constant change, since independence.
People who were and are entrusted with the power to lead, uphold and protect the laws are turning about to oppose and or abuse the same statutes.
The spirit of democracy is being continually stripped, and the people suffer under the rule of iron-fist leadership. The irony of it all? People re-elect the same leaders that steal away their freedoms and then lament till the following electoral cycle, where they make the same mistake again.
This has led to an uprising of toxic and self-centred politics. We the people, keep feeding the monsters time and again. We do not suffer in the hands of our leaders. We suffer in our hands, with respect to the decisions we make.
Things are getting more and more ugly with politics on each sunset. The heat and instability have been and is still escalating, yet no one is showing concern to address the already intensified controversy, not even the ones mandated for by the constitution to counter such situations. This, to anyone that loves the nation, should be a wake-up call. Why do we have to constantly stand refuted truth and ignorance?
Someone wrote in the days’ yonder,
“If a man is born ignorant, to parents that are ignorant, in an ignorant society, lives a life of ignorance and eventually dies in ignorance, then ignorance is the norm”
“Thus, indoctrination can be called education, hypnotism can be called entertainment, criminals can be called ‘leaders’ and lies can be called truth”
Looking philosophically at the above quote, in Kenya today politics are considered a luxury in lieu of service delivery. We have toxic engagement in retrograde political conversations, and it is termed as bravery! We have bad leadership and it is praised.
Our politicians take advantage of the masses. They offer no commitment to educate and encourage their citizens to refuse ignorance.
“Politics is more dangerous than war,” so said American statesman Winston Churchill, “for in war you are only killed once.” The truth is that we have more in common than the politicians and all their manipulation strategies try to convince us. There is an urgent need for a synergist to remind us all the things that we have in common as a people, but not the little differences that exist amongst ourselves, which should unquestionably be appreciated, not resented.
Love for family, love for heritage, desire to be heard, the desire to provide shelter and security for our loved ones, the need for sports, the love for good and healthy food, the love for good heart-to-heart conversations, desire to be respected, the need for good music, and the need for a solid handshake or a hug, to mention just a few of what we have in common.
Politics has instigated and pitted us against each other. Men against women and the young against the elderly. Ethnical groups running against each other instead of celebrating the shared national heritage, and many other things that we have been tricked to believe that they don’t matter, despite the fact that we know very well that they are of great importance for a nation to be cohesive.
Everyone has the inherent power to think independently, but thinking the truth regardless of the appearance is unmistakably hard. For peace and good leadership to reign, the people must be willing to wake up and conform to the facts, which are not only the most ignored but also unchangeable.
Keep your eyes and heart wide open. Don’t be fooled. Don’t be naive. Be aware, and be wise. This way, we will achieve a peaceful, happy and cohesive nation together.
- Edwin Githinji is a current affairs writer based in Nakuru, Kenya.
Email: eddy.githinji022@gmail.com
Phone: +254 797186140