Let’s retake our country from the NASA and Jubilee mobs

Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates was skeptical about democracy describing it as the worst form of government. The masses given their allergy to knowledge cannot be relied upon to decide the form of government that suits them. He envisioned perfect government composed of philosopher-kings, the warrior class, and the merchants.



We have blindly embraced the Western system of government which was shoved down our throats after the end of the cold war. The advent of uni-polarity placed the US at the centre of world's politics. Its system of government became the SI unit for measuring governance.



It’s common knowledge that the drafters of our so-called progressive constitution transplanted it from America. There is nothing Kenyan about the constitution apart from the symbols of national unity; the flag, the national anthem, coat of arm and the public seal.



The constitution emphasizes so much on representation creating numerous elective posts on the premise of enhancing public participation in governance increasing in the process the number of omnivores; meat-eaters, sugar-eaters, and maize-eaters.



The populace since time immemorial have exhibited the tendency to make the worst possible choice. From the Jewish mobs that thirsted for Christ’s blood, Quraysh inhabitants who forced prophet Mohamed (PBUH) into exile, the Brexit mobs to American mobs now being led by a cantankerous business mogul history is filled with numerous examples of worst possible choices made by populations under the guise of democracy.



Fast forward to the Kenyan political scene dominated by NASA and Jubilee mobs. The character of their contest is to settle old political scores. Devoid of any meaningful agenda, their politicking is characterized by name-calling, insults, and mudslinging. They remind us of the African proverb; the higher a monkey climbs, the more it exposes its backside. Jubilee and NASA tribal lords have not only exposed their backsides but also their undersides.



Since 2005, the current crop has treated us to a fair share of shenanigans. After falling out with Kibaki over some secretly signed MOU, opposition doyen Raila Odinga led a campaign against the rejection of Wako draft as a way of granting Kibaki his comeuppance. The seven competitors were on the same boat singing the same tune. Following the success of the NO side, Raila tried to replicate Orange revolution that happened in Ukraine in 2004 forming the Orange Democratic Movement.



The vicious contest that followed in 2007 left in its wake over 1300 people dead 650000 displaced and the Kenyan economy in tatters. The subsequent brokered coalition that was formed was characterized by grandstanding, backstabbing and arm-twisting as departments were elevated into ministries to accommodate interests of the protagonists.



Surprisingly, the whole NASA and Jubilee were in the coalition that failed to mitigate the 2009 food shortage, failed to actualise Kazi kwa Vijana initiative and the famed Economic Stimulus Programmes that were supposed to revolutionise rural economy by aggressively building modern market stalls, water pans, and fish ponds. All these projects became stillborn.



In 2013 the political dynamics changed as ICC indictees coalesced and quickly formed a coalition to circumvent the process. The leading lobbyist who hoped to make political capital out of the situation, the then VP Kalonzo Musyoka found himself sidelined and had to form a marriage of convenience with his archrival, Raila in order to remain politically relevant.



For the past four years, we have witnessed exchanges, flip-flopping and shifting of goal posts from both sides. Jubilee has successfully waded in murky waters of scandal after scandal due to an incompetent and confused opposition which lacks moral authority to question its opponent given the extent of plunder by Cord-leaning governors.



This year we are witnessing the same shenanigans play out as food prices shoot through the roof. No side has a concrete solution to the food crisis because they are all beneficiaries. They can be likened to Siamese twins, two sides of the same coin.



All this is taking place as the populace cheers, urges them on. Going by the recent nominations, it’s sad to say but the right to choose leaders needs some limitations. The crop of leaders that were chosen would make Al Capone wish he were alive. He would have ran for the presidency and won. Going by the current trend, if El Chapo applied for asylum in Kenya he would never be homesick.



Extraordinary moments in history calls for people of substance and character make decisions on behalf of ignorant mobs. Martin Luther did for African Americans, Mohandas Gandhi did for the Indians. These mobs will call for the release of Barnabas and crucifixion of Jesus.



The Kenyan mobs can’t make any meaningful decision after all what they have to choose is the lesser of the two evils and as my good friend, Prof. Wainaina reminds us they will get the evil of the two lessers.



Having formed part of nominations security detail were everybody wanted to get ahead we had to coerce and compel the mobs to queue. I came to conclude that there comes a time when a logical and rational individual needs to step up and decide for the mobs and whip them into order.



It is time to rethink our system of governance amend this American Constitution and elect a clone between Magufuli and Kagame. We need to move forward but mobocracy is holding us back.



There is this popular cliché that is fronted by analysts when comparing Kenya and the Asian Tigers particularly South Korea about how their GDP was at par in 1963 but presently the Asian one is 60 times the Kenyan one. I like using Germany as an example, a country that was involved in three major wars in 80 years; the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, World War I and World War II. It won only the Franco-Prussian one.



Despite the devastation, human, territorial and economic losses, Germany emerged from the ashes of war stronger. She is now a member of G-7 and the leading economy in European Union. Kenya which has been peaceful for the last 50 years is wallowing in poverty and want relying on donors a good chunk of its budget.



 The 8/8 D-day is here and the aftermath will be nothing but déjà vu. Irrespective of the choice we make Joshua or Uhuruto, we will lament for the next five years. NASA or Jubilee even if they are given 100 years cannot deliver Kenya from the throes of want. Why risk giving them five years?