Let Gen Zs pursue change, but not be naive to political reality

In December 1992, I participated in the first multiparty elections. The elections promised a new beginning, a respite from a hope cruelly stolen from my youth. The loss of that election felt personal, but hope was rekindled in 2002 when NARC united and looked set to win the polls.

There were however fears that the state would not permit a NARC takeover. Many of my generation went for Christmas in December of 2002 and said goodbye to our parents, clear that if the elections were rigged, we would match to State House ready to die, joining the hundreds who had given their lives for Kenya’s freedoms.

Looking back now, I am amazed by our naivety and the purity of our faith in the promise of a new dawn, delivered in lofty campaign promises by people we had for decades watched in the struggle for reform. 

In true political fashion, these reform heroes were interspersed with others who had jumped the Kanu ship at the last minute but were now the most virulent of latter-day reformers. But we naively believed.

No sooner had power changed hands in January 2003 than the betrayals became evident. First came the inability to contact our former buddies. I remember that only the late Alex Mureithi, NARC’s Director of Elections, may his soul rest in peace, kept his old number and returned calls. The rest went mteja.

Then we started hearing of “deals” being cut. Within weeks our former allies were rolling in big money. Scandals, including “our” AngloLeasing, became legend. Our innocence slowly died. But to be honest, while we had not attained our dreams, Kenya had made some strides and was the better for the investment that the reformists had put in the process.

I share this story to explain my views on the ongoing mandamano and the faith of young people that they will catalyse fundamental change in Kenya. I totally understand their perspective. They join generations before them, including those that lost their lives in the Aberdares believing that a better Kenya was possible.

Unfortunately for them, in the midst of all reforms are two groups participating in the mandamano but whose intentions are nefarious. One lot is just criminals who wish to benefit from the mayhem caused by such events. To the credit of the police and well-intentioned activists, this lot has been restrained and have only done damage under the cover of darkness. The other group in this morass are worse.

They are the scheming wolves in sheepskins who will climb on the backs of the well-meaning reformists to get to the elusive promised land only to unwrap the sheepskin and revert to wolfhood.

They include characters who have benefited from the largesse of previous administrations but are now latter-day saviours of the people, their only credentials being their ability to throw brickbats at their previous allies in government.

Their plan is to hijack any movement and continue their access to the gravy train whether directly or by cutting deals with those who will be in power. Beyond power, they have no other agenda. All I can say to the young people, beware; repeat not our naivety. But remember that despite our naivety we left Kenya better, may the same be said of you. Now to government. The numbers that came out on June 25th may, in true Kenyan fashion, have had ethnic overtones. But that should not detract from the validity of their enormous anger. Their feelings must not be delegitimised. There needs to be a real commitment to listen to what this anger is saying. Significant changes, both substantively and symbolically, need to be made.

The sense of bluster and “utado-ness” that defines our public affairs needs to cease. Yes, Kenya Kwanza has stabilised the economy, kept prices low and is slowly improving our health care.

But as an old adage says, it is more important to be heard than to be helped. Have we heard this generation? Truly heard them? The focus of the next two years needs to be legitimising the voices of the unheard and responding to their reasonable asks, even as we continue with investments that make Kenya more viable. Doing is good leadership, but listening trumps everything.

The writer is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya