Why heckling politicians has become so fashionable

By Ibrahim Ndamwe

It is curious that no one ever saw it fit to heckle former President Daniel Moi. In fact, apart from Martha Karua walking out on him, everyone knew that it was extremely foolhardy to directly express their displeasure at the old warrior, unless, of course, one was penning anonymous leaflets from a hideout in Afghanistan.

It, therefore, befits the stature of Fimbo ya Nyayo that hooligans only got the guts to heckle and throw mud at him when he was handing over office in 2007. Funny enough, only Yoweri Museveni bothered to reprimand the rowdy crowd. Yet a kumbafu rebuke from President Kibaki at his swearing-in would have been most appropriate, a signal that the new broom was not a man to be trifled with.

As Kenyans sung and danced, the old warrior said, "Now you are saying Moi must go. But one day you will say Moi must come back!" People laughed deliriously, thinking the old man had gone nuts.

But in a short while, Kenyans begun reflecting on the old man’s tenure wistfully, saying this or that would never have happened when he was in charge. Maybe that’s why they have been heckling their leaders at every political gathering.

heckled everywhere

These days, politicians are heckled at funerals in their own constituencies. Scruffy villagers have even heckled the Prime minister and the President in their respective Kibera and Othaya strongholds. Just why is the common man screaming murder and yelling at leaders?

Maybe they are hungry. Maybe they are tired of leaders yakking in their faces for hours without once bothering to listen to the people they lead. Maybe they are just sick of their leaders. Perhaps they are just kumbafu as the President eloquently retorted on Madaraka Day.