When you are a member of the “Uhuru generation” (born after 1963), you could get encouraged when you realize that the youth are actively struggling to take over the leadership of the Republic of Kenya. In many political upheavals around the world, the youth are always on the frontlines. During the PEV in Kenya after Raila Odinga’s Presidency was stolen, majority of those who braved the frontlines were the youth. Many of those who were shot dead by security forces were young people.
There is not a single revolution which has ever succeeded without massive support from the youth. In fact, many rebellions, mass insurrections and revolt against tyrants and dictators around the world are normally spear-headed by the youth, the future leaders. As recently as late last year, the youth took to the streets of London to protest against plans by the government to raise education fees while in Italy, repeated anti-Berlusconi protests have mainly been led by the youth. In Greece, where the government faced economic collapse, the youth led anti-government rebellions and battled riot police for days in the streets.
A few days ago, the Tunisian dictator fled the country following a rebellion that was fundamentally led by the youth who were protesting against structural unemployment, high food prices and marginalization by the government.
Back in Kenya, the Saba Saba revolution, which brought about political pluralism in the country, was mainly driven by the youth who paid with their lives to open the democratic space. KANU’s 40 year hold on power was finally put to an end by the youth who supported the opposition and forced former dictator Daniel arap Moi into retirement. The delivery of a new constitution in Kenya could have come to naught had the youth stayed at home instead of attending mass rallies to show support.
Today, there is no question that any politician or political Party that can be supported by the Kenyan youth can easily come to power. In fact, the big question should be what happens when the youth have seized power. The secret behind a youthful leader getting to State House is to convince the youth with ideas and to underline the need for a generational change in the country’s leadership.
During the past four elections, very youthful leaders have managed to enter Parliament. Here, names like “Saimo”, Mungatana, Jirongo, Ruto, Uhuru, Joho, Sonkoh etc come to mind. Unfortunately, political performance by these leaders has been as dismal as the old guards while their tactics have been as dirty as those of the old guards. The most pathetic observation is that the ideas these youths have been selling to members of their generation have been as old and unworkable as those of the old guards. Without going much into history, let us examine the cases of two youthful “leaders” currently on the headlines.
We have two very high profile names – William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta – playing with the idea of taking over the country’s leadership. However, when you look at their ideas, they profess the same ethnic-based politics that has been perpetuated by the old guards since the days of independence. This dirty politics has promoted tribalism and polarized the country along ethnic lines for years. The two are preaching the politics of “we Kalenjins” and “we Kikuyus” so what they need is another Wamalwa to proclaim “we Luhyas” and new side-kicks to surface with “we Luos”, “we Waswahilis”, “we Kambas” etc to complete the circle and head to State House to grab power and share the loot as the question of mass unemployment and marginalization of the youth continues under their leadership.
Kenya youth must not be naive
Throughout their utterances, there is glaring evidence that our youthful leaders who have the opportunity are as politically bankrupt as their Wazee counterparts who have ran down the country. With tribal politics as their sole leaning posts, ethnic alliances are inevitable, alliances that will see the country go round the political round-about for generations as poverty deepens and human suffering continues unabated.
Kenyan youth need leaders who can put forward the alternative of an Alliance between the working people, the army of unemployed, students and peasants to take over power, not just to get to State House but to overthrow the system of government that every dictator has used to run down the country using henchmen and a cabal of ethnic chauvinists who believe that some tribes are better than others in Kenya.
Kenya needs leaders (young or old) who can end the domination of the country by a few rich thieves who steal from government every day and get away with the loot because they are “protected” by their God fathers. Ruto is as corrupt as Uhuru, Kiraitu, Michuki and other fat cats. Although they hail from different ethnic groups, they are all members of the rich class of wealth grabbers that have conspired to keep millions of Kenyans hungry. A new ethnic alliance in Kenyan politics will simply replace this thieving class without changing anything at the grass roots. This class is Kenya’s enemy number one and changing them is like changing clothes as a way of curing a seriously sick patient – it will never happen.
Millions of Kenyan youth understand the dynamics of “the rich and the poor wars”. They know that ethnic alliances benefits no one but the ruling classes, their friends, allies and sycophants. They are genuinely worried about the cycle of hopeless ethnic alliances that do not benefit the country. What is still not yet understood by millions of voters is how to drive class-based politics that could side-line the rich and lead to power take-over by the deprived and exploited classes. It is this kind of politics (class politics) that the youth ought to be driving.
When teachers go on strike to demand higher wages, they do not do so as different ethnic groups but as a class of exploited workers in the teaching profession. Likewise, Makangas constitute a class of exploited workers in the transport industry. Jobless youths are in a class of their own regardless of whether they are Luos or Kikuyus. This is where they will remain (may be at Mathare) regardless of whether Raila or Uhuru takes power.
The price of unga, paraffin, petrol and other basic consumer commodities will never go down as long as the rich continue to be in power in Kenya because the same rich thieves and robbers are involved in unga, paraffin, petrol and other businesses at grand levels. The problem of landlessness will never be addressed in Kenya when the likes of Uhuru Kenyatta’s family are the leading land grabbers.
Every year, workers living on starvation wages have been hoping for pay rises commensurate with the rate of inflation. This will never happen if workers themselves cannot be represented in Parliament to argue their case. The State is in the best position to create jobs for the youth through investment of State resources. The reason why jobs are not being created is because the ruling class is stealing money that could be invested in roads, housing (to house millions especially in urban areas) and other development projects that could create jobs. Kenyans who understand this politics should help by delivering the message to the youth.
The myth that the youth can change Kenya if they take over leadership needs to be deconstructed because we already have a large number of youths in Parliament. Without radical ideas, youthful leaders can be as hopeless as their father’s age-mates and grandfathers currently in positions of power. The country is witnessing the spectacle of youthful leaders with old-generation ideas that will never bring tangible political changes to the suffering masses. The Kenyan youth must not be naïve.
Okoth Osewe
About the Author
The role of Youth in society!
The role of youth in the fight for and defense of democracy
In the new democracies of the world, the role of youth is of special importance, and in the world today there are more new than established democracies. Older generations of a society include leaders of the discredited undemocratic regime and many who supported, or at least tolerated it as likely to last their lifetime or because they saw no way of opposing it. By contrast, young politicians are freer of association with excesses of the past, and have often been prominent in demonstrations calling for an end to an undemocratic regime. The way in which a new democratic government develops is of special concern to young people, for it promises to rule their lives for forty years or more — whether it becomes a completely consolidated democracy or remains an imperfect, incomplete democracy. If a new democracy demonstrates continuing weaknesses, idealistic young people may become indifferent or cynical in reaction. Insofar as idealism declines, then this reduces popular pressure for better governance.
In established democracies, continuity in fundamental political values through the turnover of generations is necessary to maintain a democratic political system. Insofar as young people endorse the “rules of the game” of an established democracy, their political views will be only marginally different from those of their elders. In such circumstances, the turnover of generations changes who rules, but it does not alter how government works. If young people in such a society rebel against the values of their parents, this would lead to support for anarchic or undemocratic forms of government, destabilizing a democratic system.
In new democracies younger generations are faced with the challenge of creating stability in the place of the chronic instability of the past. In Latin America, where many countries have alternated between democracy and dictatorship or between different forms of semi-democratic rule, democratic stability is the most precious goal. In post-Communist societies, the collapse of old regimes (and of states such as the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia) and gains in freedom have been accompanied by the creation of new political and economic uncertainties. The role of youth therefore has very different significance in old and new democracies. In the former, young people face the challenge of fitting into an established political system or making changes. In new democracies, a discredited regime is no more, but young people have the challenge of promoting their country’s new freedom.
A positive commitment to democratic values is of fundamental political importance, for in a democracy what ordinary people think is important. Insofar as young people are idealistic, they may be especially in favour of democracy. But insofar as the character and performance of a political regime falls short of the standards of an ideal democracy — and many do — then frustrated idealism can lead to constructive criticism, vigorous attack or political cynicism and apathy. Insofar as experience creates tolerance of less than ideal systems of government, then middle-age people may be more positive about their democratic regime than young people. In societies where old people have experienced authoritarian or totalitarian rule, a democratic regime full of inadequacies may be preferred as the lesser evil, on the Churchillian grounds that an imperfect democracy is better than everything else their country has tried. However, in new democracies such resignation may turn younger people off politics.
Young adults can be seen as having distinctive political interests, more inclined to change than older generations, more idealistic in their goals and less loyal to established traditions. In economic terms, young people are specially vulnerable to increased unemployment, because this hurts most those who are just entering the labour market. They are much more affected by a government’s education policy toward cash grants for students and tuition charges than by pension measures that affect their parents or grandparents. Especially in new democracies, education policy affects the opportunity of getting a good job and social mobility. Insofar as the life styles of young people differ substantially from older generations, youths are more sensitive to laws that regulate behaviour that their elders reject, for example, concerning sex, abortion and the use of soft drugs.
How involved are young people in politics and how different is their outlook from that of middle-aged and older adults? This report answers the question by the systematic analysis of public opinion surveys from 41 countries covering the established democracies of Western Europe, post-Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, democratic and semi-democratic countries of Latin America, plus Korea and South Africa.
To understand youth in politics we must compare their behaviour and values with those of middle-age and older citizens in order to see how much (or how little) difference there is between generations. While grandparents, parents and youths in the same family share blood ties, they often differ radically in their political experiences. This is especially true in new democracies. In established democracies of Europe, the great majority of citizens, whatever their age, have only known life in a democracy. In post-Communist countries where democracy was introduced after the fall of the Berlin Wall in November, 1989, only the youngest generation has come of age politically in a system with free and fair elections. In many Latin American countries most adults have lived under democratic and undemocratic regimes, and only the youngest generation has come of political age with the new wave of democracy. For them, the old undemocratic regime can be part of the past that is dead rather than an active point of reference of what is to be avoided.
Altogether, the data base includes almost 50,000 interviews, with sufficient respondents in every country to ensure that all the findings reported here–including those showing little or no difference between age groups–are statistically significant. The report compares three age groups: the young between the ages of 18-29; middle-age citizens between 30 and 59; and the oldest generation, age 60 or above. Given many thousands of respondents, almost any difference will be statistically significant. In order to be politically significant differences should be at least 10 percent, for smaller differences between generations almost invariably mean that a majority in all generations behave the same.
The survey evidence about the influence of social structure on political involvement shows that while youth are sometimes and to some degree different from their elders, age is neither the sole nor the primary influence on political involvement. Prosperity and education are usually more important. Figure 1 summarizes the results by averaging across three continents the difference between young and old; the most and least educated; and the most and least prosperous.
Prosperity tends to have the most consistent and positive relation with democratic involvement. Across all three continents, more prosperous people are more likely to vote, to be interested in politics, have a positive attitude toward democracy and reject undemocratic alternatives. Education is also important. More educated people are more likely to be interested in politics, satisfied with democracy, and opposed to undemocratic alternatives.
Age has no overall relation with the most significant measures of democratic involvement: satisfaction with democracy, the rejection of undemocratic alternatives, and interest in politics. Older people are more likely to vote than younger people. Young people are often in motion, moving between education and work, creating technical obstacles to voting, such as being registered to vote from one address while living a long way away. In these circumstances, young people may not begin to exercise their civic rights until they begin to settle down, several years after they are formally eligible to vote. Age affects pride in country; older people are consistently more likely to be proud of their country. This suggests that in an era of easy travel and trans-national media, young people are more cosmopolitan than their elders.
Youth without an Ideology is just useless and equal to old-guard failed behaviour , mentality ,attidudes and thinking.
power of the people> Long live the Youth of Tunisia Algeria and Egypt will be the next!
I can say while I watch these events in Tunisia, that the people of Kenya are not angry enough. The few crumbs of bread that our politicians throw at us make us docile to some extent. When we really get angry, then a revolution happens just like it has happened in Tunisia. A huge population has been slowly oppressed giving them just enough rope to hang themselves and the slaughter continues. But I am optimistic that some of us are willing to get angry enough and hopefully …just hopefully the tide will change.
Tunisians voted their ousted President by a over 85 % margin and then got angry with him – just like that! We have a president whose legitimacy is questioned even by the cattle in Turkana and we cannot get angry enough!
We have a group of thugs mascquarading as MPs and stealing our money left right centre and we cannot muster the courage to say “Enough”! When we vote the people we think will represent us in parliament, they go to make themselves rich and then forget about us. We are too comfortable being with our “own” despite the fact that the total sum of our very own are not doing well .
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/14/tunisia.protests/index.html?hpt=T1
It is a naked true the Tunisian Revolution has borne the fruits of Liberation>>http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/18/tunisia.protests.region/index.html
The power from the People
Kenyans must arise NOW!NOW!NOW!NOW!
It is about time Kenyans demonstrated against a number of ills affecting our Country.
For instance, how can the Government set aside Ksh.4.6 billion within weeks and without approval for representing 2 privileged individuals against Ksh. I billion for resettling thousands of IDPs? This math’s does not add up. For how long shall we take this nonsense?
The civil society should have organized and called for peaceful protests and demonstrations. We need not only to draw attention locally and internationally. The political goons and some members of parliament need to get this message loud and clear. We have had it. We cannot take it any more. Peaceful mass demonstration along city streets or across the nation or be it at Uhuru park is needed now.
Kenyans shall come out in large numbers to show their displeasure.
I shall stand up and be counted. I won’t be alone!
So many leaders so little leadership.
Youth without an Ideology is just useless and equal to old-guard failed behaviour , mentality ,attidudes and thinking.
Really heavy reality, Joab.
We could continue saying naive, or coming of age. We are living in a time of serious disparities due to ignorance and no spiritual recognition. Lost souls, as such we must revise the prospect of continued worthlessness until a sense of unity is vizualized by the “disenfranchised” thru sensible sensitizing of issues at hand to garner a progressive consensus which multiplies itself.
The state of our unions labour and tie style are all in limbo and apathized. The do work but ever so slow and minimal results. As robust a country, kenya and continent, Africa is a worthless paradigm must be something we could put behind us sooner than later.
Time is ripe and all reprisals against this straightenening of backs will only be for a while since it is inevitable that worthlessness in forms of greed and malign power as well as misusing authority cannot be sustained.
I am sure that as time is “expanding” new horizons come into view. Let those who feel and experience they see it come together under one banner and make the moves required as per expected in laying foundations for coming generations.
Those who have identified with the soon to be former empowered cannot and will not know of injustice and inequality they will only perpetuate it.
Blessup and well described Osewe and Joab.
/Arne
Please let the whole world see this naked truth of the HIGHEST IMPUNITY IN THE WHOLE KENYA POLICE BRUTALITY ,EXTRA JUDICIAL EXECUTION (KILLING) OF THE HIGHEST ORDER>
http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Editorial/Someone%20must%20stop%20executions%20by%20police/-/440804/1092452/-/cf7ki4/-/index.html
Hej Yusuf,
I just read this last night too. True colours of those purporting to be for sensibility. Seems they are really up against the wall and nowhere to turn. Such worthless and pathetic options. Next thing you know they will turn against themselves if that is not the case already.
Impunity becomes “entertainment” and the flip-flopping of the parliaments decisions are just to buy time and keep us focused on them still. As ugly as that sounds and is, this way considering this leadership is the one we deserve till we feel we deserve alternative leadership and seek ways to attain it.
/Arne
These bound for ICC men, are really boisterous about themselves with no sense of shame or integrity. I mean did they really think they could just keep at bay and keep running away from their serious misjudgements. Time will tell and the worthlessness of not being responsible as men of character to face the music as they played it for others.
It all just goes to confirm what pathetic character we have representing us since the first tokenists took charge and were accredited by the colonialists. That garbage design has got to go and the whole bunch that had much to gain from the malign design that left a large scar of the east african coast and african continent as a whole.
See the temperature is right to do whats right and shake the bogus “mighty”. Those who wont humble themselves will certainly have to go; those ready to confess and let the people decide their judgement could get a “break” Reconciliation solely among the “haves” or former empowereds´ will not be the solution. Inclusivity must be ensured.
Blessup
/Arne
You are spot on in this article. Yes, it’s time for young people to rise and shine in Kenya. We need jobs for them and good lives too. In this spirit, http://www.myafricancareer.net is the one stop shop for all Kenyans and East Africans in search of work and career advice. Long live Kenya!
These videos give some examples of the current crop of young MPs we have in Kenya. Do they symbolize mature leadership? No. They have vast wealth from alleged massive drug dealings and corruption. They are ardently worshipped by their poor constituents. One young woman claimed that Gideon Mbuvi aka Sonko of Makadara constituency, “smells of money”.
The hero-worshipping of such useless “ghetto-fabulous” bandits turned MPs, has made Kenyans not to demand for rightful services, but to accept handouts during campaigns. MPs normally pay back by looting their tax money to add onto their ill-gotten wealth.
Sonko: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWkup1NKthc&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxomfOC-zOs&feature=related
Sonko men attack DJ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV25rxy97D0&feature=related
Martha Karua does not care about Sonko’s background as long as he brings money into her party, Narc-Kenya.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX-WLGuQHGg&feature=fvw
Simon Mbugua, the immediate former Kamukunji MP who lost his seat last week because of election irregularities. He threatens citizens and journalists, yet no Government authority takes action.
Simon Mbugua charged with fraud:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAxaQkVr0i0
Simon Mbugua angry with Nation newspapers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2LxQRwUuQU&NR=1&feature=fvwp
Simon Mbugua assaults journalists:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFCMk-nh1LI&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GJuM7W44ss&feature=channel
Kenya’s lords of impunity:
Bima thanks 4 ur links on the examples of some young MPs in Parliament. We also recall that Joho and Wamalwa were mentioned as suspected drug barons who use money to corrupt the masses and get their self-interest served. They are just greedy and will neva develop the country.Am now convinced that the generational shift will still maintain the status quo.
Lately we are seeing a lineup of Moi-styled young MPs promoting tribal chieftainship kind of politics without any development or people-centered agenda.
Simon Mbugua and Mbuvi Sonko are true lords of impunity who don’t care about the rule of law.
Ass. minister Waititu of Embakasi was recently engaged in the destruction of property yet his case was simply dismissed. Who shall speak for Wanjiku, Rehema and Sitatian when these young MPs neva represent their perpetual problems? They are instead constantly engaged in a neva ending verbal diarrhea promoting tribal alliances.
Kenya is heading nowhere with this cast of young morons.
Special Programs minister Esther Murugi has suggested HIV positive patients be locked away from others in society. What a primitive suggestion in the 21st century? How can a policymaker responsible for giving direction for people’s welfare say such a thing? Shame on her!Kibaki’s cabinet is full of crazy ministers.
A leopard can never hide its spots. We now can see the kind of persons we choose as leaders. Brainless, merciless robots who do not think of implications of their careless talk. Probably she was in campaigning mood. Those are just youth wingers not leaders. Poor Kenya.
Minister Esther Murugi is unapologetic about her loose utterance on isolating HIV patients. If this is not arrogance mixed with impunity then what is it? She now twists words around yet the video on #13 above quotes her suggesting what happened in Cuba then should be done in Kenya also.
MBUGUA LOCKED OUT KAMUKUNJI BY-ELECTION
Thursday, 28 April 2011 11:00 Oliver Mwenda
Former Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua will not take part in the forth coming Kamukunji by-election after he was locked out by the IIEC. The IIEC says Mbugua has failed to meet the nomination deadline since he was only nominated on the 26th of April 5 days after the deadline. He has also allegedly failed to comply with the political parties rules which dictate that a person should notify the registrar of having defected from a party to another 14 days before being allowed to run for a political seat. Mbugua defected to little known VIPA party after he failed to secure, PNU and KANU tickets in the nomination stage.