Why should Kenyans queue for what's right?

Street boys queuing for food donated by a wellwisher at Jivanjee Gardens on December 25, 2022. [Samson Wire, Standard]

A picture is worth a thousand words, we're told. The frontpage photo on the Christmas Day Standard grabbed my attention and occupied my thoughts for most of that day.

It showed thousands of men, young and old, in some remote Kisii village lining up in an orderly fashion to receive wheat flour from their Member of Parliament. The MP almost outdid Jesus in feeding the multitudes, and The Standard journalist like the Evangelist Matthew, only found it fitting to record the presence of men.

Matthew told us that the number of those who ate were five thousand men, not counting women and children (Mt. 14:21). We trust that thousands of women were also beneficiaries of the legislator's generosity.

But, readers, is it really acceptable, that 59 years after independence, grown men are so desperate and impoverished that they will stand for long hours in the midday sun to collect a packet of flour for their Christmas family celebration? These are the same folk who lined up on August 9th to choose their legislator and now he feels obliged to reward them.

Yes, Christmas is a time to share with orphans, widows, people with disabilities, the old who no longer receive their government cash transfers and those who fall through the cracks from the misfortunes of life. But what if, as it seems, the majority are in need and a two-kilogramme packet of flour can make such a difference? Isn't that disturbing?

The whole event, which may have been replicated all over the country, makes you question why we have so many needy people and where MPs acquire all that cash to feed their constituents at Christmas?

This culture of buying votes and feeding hungry constituents is so rampant that it makes a mockery of democracy. Isn't the primary role of elected representatives to legislate and develop programmes and policies that improve the livelihoods of the citizens so that they don't have to stand in line for handouts or beg for what is their basic rights?

These are difficult times for the new administration. What with the Public Debt amounting to 67 per cent of the GDP there is not much to go around for developing infrastructure. Worse still the IMF are back in town again with its packages of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs), neatly dressed up under more fancy names.

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There may have been an urgent need for fiscal discipline but as before it is welfare programmes, essential services and low-income earners who will bear the brunt for the recent $447 million budgetary support. There are four million Kenyans in need of emergency food assistance at the moment and the Government establishes a Paybill number and requests the already burdened taxpayer to feed them!

This government needs prayers and a little more time. But there is a limit to the public's patience and Kenya Kwanza must be sensitive to people's suffering and frustration. Kenyans are aware of the massive wastage of public funds in sending the largest African delegations to both the World Cup and COP27 in Egypt and they don't want to hear that MCAs want higher allowances.

Democracy requires that those entrusted with leadership actually lead and govern in a responsible manner. The decision to cut out extravagant expenditure on government seminars in five-star hotels was a gesture that resonates with the hardships that the majority have to endure daily. But much more is required if the public are to restore confidence in the commitment of elected representatives to bring the change that Kenyans yearn for.

Democracy is on trial in Kenya as seen in the 65 per cent turnout in the General Election, down from 85 per cent ten years ago. Particularly worrying is the indifference of the young voters and the rising cynicism about political life. Yet, a New Year always brings hope and we are addicted to hope. Not false hopes but the orientation towards the Good that God builds from our humble efforts. It has been a challenging year, but 'Hope smiles from the threshold of the Year to come, whispering 'it will be happier' as Lord Tennyson said.

May you have a wonderful year and never have to stand in line to beg for what is your right.