There are several lessons that Kenyans must learn from the American presidential campaigns, fundamentally so because local politics is stale.
Stale because politicians in successive regimes have maintained similar retrogressive style over time so much so that every election year, businessmen refuse to invest, ordinary citizens are reluctant to spend, foreign investors shy away, everyone adopts a policy of ‘let’s wait see how it goes’.
Unlike in America where presidential campaigns as lately witnessed are largely issue-based, campaigns in Kenya since independence have perpetually been dominated by political grudges, witch hunt and unfathomable selfishness.
Whichever way America votes on Tuesday, there will be a common denominator which Kenyans need to pick, the voters will be voting for the candidate they convincingly believe has the best foreign, health, economic, security policies regardless of his race, tribe or even family background.
This same yardstick is what must guide voters as the country heads towards one of the most hotly contested presidential elections in Kenya’s history.
The country needs a leader with compelling policies that can effectively address key issues like the ever rising cost of living, security, the shocking rate of unemployment, the shaky food situation in the country and the dilapidated health sector among others.
For us to achieve development goals contained in the Vision 2030, political goodwill, policies that are consistent with changing times globally including technological development are obligatory.This goal cannot be easily achieved under the leadership of common-place presidential candidates, candidates without the qualities that go with the office on an effective president. As a country, we must stop the habit of ‘changing the forest when the monkeys are the same’.
As Albert Einstein once said, insanity is doing things the same way and expecting a different result.
Voters need to cautiously vet all aspirants not on the basis of their tribe, affluence or political influence but on the basis of their agenda for the country. One of the American presidential candidates recently said the prosperity of a country is built on the strength of our middle class.
A country would not succeed, “when a few at the top do well while everyone else struggles to get by – we’re better off when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules.”
The other lesson Kenya must learn from the American presidential election is that peace, even during elections, is the heart of a thriving nation.
Obama and Romney have had different opinion regarding a majority of issues, they defended their argument with utter tenacity, they went for each other’s throat not over tribe and race, but over foreign policy, unemployment, security and health among others.
Notably however, throughout the campaigns by the two candidates, there was a common denominator, integrity, decency, respect for each other and most importantly, peaceful co-existence amongst voters. In our case, the chaos witnessed after the 2007 General Election are still fresh in our minds as a result of disputed election results and an ineffective electoral commission.
It will be remembered that over 1,200 people lost their lives, property worth billions of shillings was lost and thousands otherwise stable families were not only displaced, but were also separated following what emerged as a controversial and highly charged presidential election.
The country’s economy came almost to a standstill; we undoubtedly attracted extremely negative publicity internationally all because of practicing reckless politics.
It is about time that voters came to the inescapable resolve that casting a vote is not an act in futility; it is committing once life and that of the entire country in the hands of an individual, it is making a solemn and unequivocal statement on the path the country and her faithful citizens to go.
The recipient of the vote is a trustee, entrusted to defend the Constitution, to fight corruption, to spur economic growth but above all, ensure peace and tranquility throughout the country.
It is against this background that Kenyans must carefully vet the candidate who will finally be trusted with the affairs of the country.
