Say No to elitist ethnic power barons

Consociational democracy, or consociationalism, is a form of power arrangement put in place as a measure against violence or ethnic conflict.

It is meant to work in countries that are deeply divided along ethnic, racial and/or religious lines.

One could therefore argue that consociationalism is meant as a temporary step towards real democracy in conflict-prone societies. It is not democracy in the true sense of the word.

The question of consociational “democracy” was brought to the fore in the Senate by Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o about a week ago.

He sought to mislead the nation that this is the modern version of democracy, which is chiefly built on consensus as opposed to a situation where power and legitimate authority emanates from the people.

Prof Nyong’o disputed the very essence of the existence of democracy as rule by the majority.

Even a light interjection by the Speaker pointing to the good professor that the decisions of the House, which he is a member of, are made on the basis of majority vote, fell on deaf ears.

Democracy rests on the unshakable foundation of majority rule and no amount of circumlocution will ever change that. It cannot be substituted by political slogans.

Kenya has successfully held democratic elections since the reintroduction of multi-partyism in 1992. One cannot therefore validly argue that we surrender the right of people to directly elect their leaders.

The electoral disappointment of an individual cannot be elevated to a national catastrophe with the creation of a false narrative that Kenya is deeply divided ethnically.

One would hope no one is planning to sabotage the August elections by insisting on a 100 per cent computerised electoral process without manual backup, and then exploit any consequential conflicts and violence as justification for a consociational government.

The case for a consociational arrangement cannot work in Kenya. Let the people, not elitist ethnic power barons, decide who governs them.