Kenya is probably one of the few places in the world where belonging to a political party loses meaning soon after elections. Here, people do not elect parties, policies or ideologies. Rather, they elect personalities. There is need to have strong political parties anchored on lifelong ideological foundations. Only then, maybe, shall we have sober politics, minimise corruption and tribalism, and have sustained political stability.
Political parties in Kenya have funny names. Only a few of such names have ideological connotations like it is supposed to be. For instance, with no intention whatsoever to demean any political grouping, we have parties/coalitions with names like “Wiper”, “Jubilee” etc. Good names I must say, but where is the ideological indication in the name?
Arguably, compared to other countries, our politics lacks a clear ideological direction. As a result, the average voter is largely ignorant about democratic processes and ideals. The average voter has never really owned the democratic processes despite them purporting to be representative and participative. Our neighbours in Tanzania for instance, have parties like ‘Chama cha Mapinduzi’ (CCM). It pursues more of socialist policies. The main opposition party ‘CHADEMA’ pursues democratic and prosperity ideals.
As such, a Tanzanian who believes in socialist ideals chooses and remains a life member of CCM while one who believes in CHADEMA’s ideals becomes a life member of the same. Here in Kenya, you are taken round in circles election after election. You are in NARC in 2002, PNU, ODM in 2007, or TNA, URP or WIPER in 2013. I hear you are also being prepared to probably hop into ‘Jubilee Party’ (whether JAP, JPP or JP) in 2017. This confusion leaves the average voter clueless and helpless in decision making. They end up looking up to the most powerful political personality in their tribe to show them political direction.
Consequently, the voter gives up, by default his right to make independent political decisions away from tribe and personality. The personality cult that follows thereafter gives rise to militancy and tribal calculations in vote hunting. It follows therefore that, as a country, politics cannot be discussed without the tribal personalities being the main focal point. This makes politics boring and attracts mediocrity in political thinking. The kind of thinking that never goes beyond tribe or personality rhetoric.
In the prevailing circumstances, some sections of society find politics unattractive. Those who would rather have independence of thought refuse to dance to the politics of tribe and personalities. In any case, any intellectual who wades into this type of politics ends up committing intellectual suicide. They too end up becoming political sycophants. Our politics therefore lacks a key ingredient that is intellectual input into political thinking.
Worldwide, history has proven that intellectual input in political discourse is vital in the formation of the greatest political movements that have stood the test of time. Stalin in Russia adopted the Marxist-Leninist discourse in politics and governance, Mao Ze Dong did the same in China, Fidel Castro in Cuba, Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore and our neighbours in Tanzania had Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. These are people who applied intellectualism in formulating political ideologies that achieved a lot for their countries.
Therefore, Kenya calls for its intellectuals to enrich political discourse. Let the intellectuals in politics curve a niche for themselves in the world of governance and political thought. Let them lead in the creation of ideological powerhouses and political movements that are truly people-centred. The intelligence can help create a sober political atmosphere and formulate wonderful policies of governance.
