Patriotism is not silence when citizens reject the government

Make Kenya a world-class working nation of meritocracy, ethics, patriotism and entrepreneurs. [iStockphoto]

A dangerous misunderstanding has crept into our public life, the idea that criticism of government is a betrayal of the country. It is an old trick of power. Authority wraps itself in the flag and then brands dissent as disloyalty.

History teaches a sobering truth. The deepest form of patriotism is not silence. It is vigilance. Across social media platforms, particularly X, many Kenyans are expressing anger in language that is raw, emotional, and unsettling. They speak of broken promises, Patriotism, incompetence, and a government that feels increasingly distant from the realities of ordinary citizens.