Kenya’s new normal: Tribalism, corruption, insecurity

March 2013 had opened a new dawn for Kenya. While my heart had hoped for a different outcome, don’t make assumptions I was hopeful that the elected President and his deputy would elevate the country to higher heights. You see, even with the challenges of the 2007 elections, President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had somehow managed to turn lemons into lemonade. Kenya was booming, things were looking great and I believed the boom would double up under Uhuru/Ruto.

My hope turned into despair after reality dawned on me that President Uhuru Kenyatta was not going to use progressive style of leadership to govern Kenya. From his actions, Uhuru became president to reward his friends and protect his interests. William Ruto became Deputy to use his power for more wealth acquisition. I often wonder, Is Deputy Ruto trying to get to dollar billionaire status? Whatever his ambitions are, Kenya can’t afford his greed but that’s for another article.

Doomed as we are as a nation, Uhuru, Ruto and their chosen ones are using Kenya as an ATM and don’t want to be questioned. Anyone who Jubilee sees as a threat to this agenda is muzzled. They have made the very platforms that tear down a nation the new normal. President Kenyatta has decided that in order to protect his interests, competent or not, he has no choice but to appoint his very own. His deputy, William Ruto, is a dictator at heart who has a mission to own anything his heart desires. He doesn’t care if it hurts even the most vulnerable among us. They then use pictures and charity to fool the public.

So in 2015, we have a government that has made tribalism and nepotism an okay thing to do. This style of discrimination has been adapted even in the private sector. I personally believe that those who discriminate against others are short sighted. Deposits made into the bank of tribalism often create negative interests and the withdrawals often hurt the favoured community in the long run. Nothing lasts forever and Kenya will not always have “Uhuru Kenyatta” as her president. President Uhuru’s current actions will determine the future treatment of his community when he is gone.

Corruption is the other new normal. Evil (yes corruption is evil) has become the driving force behind the Jubilee administration. A wise man once told me “corrupt people are those who have no faith that God can provide for their needs so they steal out of fear of lack”.

In 2015, corruption is a big joke to everyone. Kenyans aren’t protesting against it and on social media, everyone says “this is Kenya” code for get used to it. We go as far as defending the corrupt actions of the leaders we like. Theft of property, theft of taxpayer funds hell even theft of children in broad daylight is too common these days. We are becoming desensitized to corruption even suggesting its legalization.

In the meantime, Kenya is in debt to her eyeballs. We are practically using foreign debt to stay afloat as most tax payer money is finding its way into personal bank accounts. All the so called progressive projects are being paid for by foreign debt. Kenya is broke yet Jubilee blames everyone but itself. Budget allocations are done in favor of avenues that can easily launder money. I have heard them blame the constitution believe it or not. KRA collected $11 Billion, yes that’s USD, in tax revenue for the 2013/2014 tax year. There is enough tax payer money to cater for our constitution so where is the money going? The effect of corruption may not manifest today but 5-7 years from now when we can’t pay back our debt and the economy begins to collapse, then and only then will we wish we had done something about the corruption we see today.

Insecurity is also a new normal. Disappearance of those we see as threats to our interests, Ethiopia invading us with no questions asked, Alshabaab killing our people left and right I mean it is normal. Call me crazy but at some point, I felt that the government created insecurity to try and control the political climate. You see, based on Uhuru’s actions, I have always felt that he wished to replicate Rwanda’s politics where the opposition has no voice, people can’t express themselves through protests, limited press freedom, oh wait didn’t he try that with the security bill? Thanks to the opposition and the level headed judges, we were saved from that oppression. Since that didn’t go as planned, his administration hatched a new plan and that’s to force Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka out of politics by controlling their pensions.

This plan is obviously an attempt to try and weaken the opposition. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has hatched a plan to freeze their bank accounts before the 2017 elections. By the way if you think Rwanda’s political situation (note, I didn’t say economic) is a good thing, think again. Rwanda has no alternative leadership and if Paul Kagume died today, the possibility of a civil war is not farfetched.

So as I sit here and write my heart out, I wonder should we accept and move on or should we fight for our country? Ponder with clarity.