By Cindy Kirui
Someone recently observed that upon the introduction of most government programmes and policies, the dominant communal psyche of Kenyans tends to be skewed heavily towards objection and negation. This happens even when the full details of the programmes and projects are not well internalised by a largely obdurate lot.
Some of our dyed-in-the-wool rabble-rousers and assorted political scavengers have taken advantage of this untoward attitude to foment squabbling among a citizenry eager to say no to anything and everything. We have, for instance, witnessed this in the case of the affordable housing programme, universal health reforms, Finance Bill 2024 and several others.
Well, I am not one to begrudge naysayers. Neither am I one to be an apologist nor one to bury my head in the sand when poor governance juts its ugly head east, west, north and south – not me! After all, sometimes dissent is the best antidote to threats posed by mediocrity and parochialism. Besides, nothing on earth would possibly lack room for improvement. So my beef really is not about the principle of expressing dissent; rather it is the manner in and ‘reasons’ for which it is done.
How, for instance, does carting away the parliamentary mace fix a nation’s financial woes? And how does feasting on a buffet prepared for parliamentarian—barbarian style—while taking selfies and hurling the most rancid profanities alter our circumstances for the better?
Personally, there are a number of things that do not sit well with me regarding how public services are extended to Kenyans.
In fact, we Kenyans have been overly lenient with the pile of deadwood at virtually every level of bureaucracy in public service that continues to paint the government in a bad light. How I wish we could summon the guts to call them out and parade them for public shaming before we become mouthpieces of political demagogues seeking publicity ahead of the next general election.
That aside, I believe there are better ways of expressing displeasure than, say, carrying debes of frowsty sewerage to Parliament, unless, one is scapegrace from purgatory or a hopeless wretch hot from the abode of the damned!
The whole idea of dissenting should be more about pointing at alternatives, less about displaying machismo and parading arty-farty smugness on the streets. In June last year, my fellow Gen Z friends called me names when I refused to join them in street demos.
I told them I would air my displeasure through other means. When confrontational protests become the dominant method of expressing objection, the aftermath leaves a trail of memories of tears caused by teargas, broken limbs and damaged property. Hardly do we reap the transformative yields from street protests carried out by angry individuals carrying placards featuring disrespectful literature and uttering scornful chants.
It all gets distorted when effigies of known certain leaders are torched at streets corners and worse yet when looting sprees begin.
In my view there are numberless ways of getting our voice heard just as there are many ways of skinning a cat.
Kenyans are known for taking to social media in style, with substance and with a generous serving of humour—oftentimes acrid—across Africa. In fact when it comes to expressing ourselves in online spaces, we are an admired lot when it comes to taking on our peers in the continent. So, what are our options?
One, persuasion and consensus building through the written word spread through multiple online outlets including X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok among others. There is no denying that the powerhouse these online outlets portend is way greater than sloganeering and daring cops to shoot us. What we need is change, not strife and tensions! We are well tutored, have the prowess to articulate our issues as young Kenyans so why make pandemonium and strife our modes of engagement!
Some of the most successful transformations across history and across the world have been procured through reason not combat. From the Civil Rights Movement in the United States championed by Martin Luther King Jnr to South Africa’s Anti-Apartheid Movement to the Solidarity Movement in Poland, the Suffragette Movement in the US and the UK and the Indian Independent Movement we have example and reason to say no without being unnecessarily provocative. They say dullards solve problems with combat and the wise settle disputes with reason and I totally agree!
If we want a sustained engagement with reason, it is our duty to create awareness of what is right or questionable in what we get from the government. Instead of working up masses to a hateful frenzy, why don’t we educate people so that they are able to identify for themselves what is good and what is undesirable. Using the masses to shout at leaders when you have not provided them civic knowledge of what they should demand is nothing but evil.
Whatever we do, I think we are better endowed to demand our rights without resulting in Jurassic behaviour and mentality.
I rest my case!
The author, Cindy is an upcoming music scholar, human rights activist and a commentator on social affairs.Â
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