…Keep The Peace...

Joshua Mutisya
Jul 23, 2017 · 5 min read

Was in a matatu the other day. Shortly after the 9pm bulletin on radio, two men started conversing about unga. I immediately shifted my attention to listen to them flexing their intellects on an issue that has moved from a basic and nutritional need, to a political tool at the disposal of any politician seeking to woo voters.

They went on well, providing hasty sentiments regarding the poor performance of rains in recent times, and the forces of demand and supply, which were “accused” of the product’s scarcity.

However, clear skies with a chance of satellite debris.

Everything went south when one of the men, insensitively purported that there are those who would never vote for the incumbent even if the cost of a 2kg-packet was to go down to Sh 30!!

What had started as a completely innocent conversation had deteriorated into a bad one, taking tribal angles. Other passengers, who had found this to be aimed at them, joined the debate. The pioneers had no alternative but to retreat and keep their mouths shut.

“.. Ni sawa, tumekuskia…Si kwa ubaya…”

The Election is here. 2013 feels just like yesterday, when, like most of you, I cast my very first vote as a citizen. Although I was exercising my right, I’d probably say that I was too excited to have an idea why I was even voting in the first place.

But I still did.

Political temperatures are currently at a notch high, and it seems as a country we are desperately waiting for that photo of the two main competitors shaking hands and smiling at each other.

Well, there are those who believe that the current political tensions in Kenya are just but a mere fabrication of the media.

However, it is important to note that the media does not gain any capital whatsoever from operating in a war-torn nation. This is why the media, being the custodian of truth, is acting within its mandate to speak out on the current state of the nation.

As Kenyans, we still long for the time when elections will no longer be a matter of life and death for mere citizens, but rather an exercise that affirms our democracy.

The government, through its security apparatus, have assured the public of absolute security in the unlikely event of violence. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has even vowed to arrest those that hide behind keyboards to spread hate.

Regardless of which side of the political divide you belong to,, no sorry,, whichever side of the political divide you are affiliated to, we need to understand that,

Jubilee supporters are more Jubilee than Uhuru Kenyatta,

Nasa supporters are more Nasa than Raila Odinga and

Independent supporters are more Independent than the “free-minded” candidates.

I’m saying this because, these politicians, from top-down, will so easily switch their alliances, rivals become partners, and then come out to face the nation with the same factual lie,

“We’ve decided to work together to promote development for our people”

…forgetting that, development to the Kenyan people is an obligation, not a privilege.

And so when political deals are being made and power being brokered, it’s quite unfortunate that the citizenry are unable to maintain peaceful cohesion among themselves.

It’s quite difficult to understand how a voter would tick into power a leader solely based on his/her tribal background.

In as much as I strongly believe that leaders should be voted on the basis of what they stand for and have to offer, it is important to note that a majority of voters actually elect in their tribesmen because of representation.

One would wish to see one of their own at the helm. It gives him/her a sense of ownership and identity in a nation of 45million.

An illusion of power.

Unfortunately, a huge majority of these elected leaders end up not representing the needs of the common man.

The few that are straight, honest and hardworking end up bowing to pressure, maybe because they lack the moral support, or lack coverage because they come out as too boring to make headlines.

Hardworkers are boring people.

Therefore, if the political class represents only its interests and reaches out to the public when seeking election or pushing its selfish agenda, that is always nicely covered in a perception called “change”, then who is representing Kenya?

The scenes at the concluded IAAF U-18 World Champions at Kasarani Stadium were incredible!! For a moment, Kenya took a break from all the noise. For those who attended, is there anyone who refused to cheer for a young Kenyan athlete because he wasn’t from your tribe?

THE Kenyan, stand up and represent your country.

This country is not led by the political class. Neither is it led by the president. This country is led by God.

It is led by the few people who pray and fast for Kenya. And when we are busy chasing our dreams, pursuing success and getting acknowledged, there are unsung heroes and heroines busy praying and fasting that we have a country that nurtures our young dreams.

This country is led by the teacher, who, no matter how many times the Teachers Service Commission has failed to promote her after decades of service, still walks into class everyday, endures the chalk and dust, teaching kids who are not hers, and not of her tribe.

This country is run by the graduates who, even after failing to land decent jobs,, after failing to see the politicians coming to their aid, refuse to give up, and begin their own small but promising businesses with the help of their friends, irrespective of their tribe.

This country is run by the journalist, who risks it all to ensure that 45million Kenyans, irrespective of their tribes, get access to true and credible information at all times.

The comedian who isn’t selective towards the audience that should listen to his/her jokes, is THE Kenyan.

Kenya is led by all taxpayers, who endure that inner pain everytime they see the digits allocated to PAYE in their payslips. And no matter the many cases of misappropriation of funds, they still quietly continue paying tax.

This has to be one of the most defining elections of our times. The decision of whether Kenya will stay strong, or it will crumble, is in our hands, not the politicians’.

To the young people, the dreams we have; that huge career you want to nurture, that girl you want to be the mama to your babies, that guy you want to be your mzee, that kaploti you want to buy, those houses you want to own, those biasharas, those events and night-outs you want to continue going to, that empire you want to build, the legacy you want to leave,

…is only possible in a peaceful Kenya. We are the majority. Yes, we are from different tribes, but our unity is found within our diversities.

We are the only true representatives of Kenya, because Kenya is us.

I know, it’s only you among the many out there. But as an individual, play your role.

Keep the Peace. Vote Wisely. Keep the Peace.

We Are All We Need.

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