VERA BWIRE: Let Kenyans complain, CS Joho, and open your ears

The course that ODM was always known for, with a stroke of the presidential pen, has been forgotten, or dismissed.

Core ODM members, such as CS Hassan Joho (Mining and the Blue Economy), and Junet Mohamed (National Assembly Minority leader), in the past would have advocated for all the good principles of democracy, governance and development.

But now they are on the other side of the divide.

Do they now despise Kenyans for advocating the same principles for which they once doggedly fought?

Kenyans, who under their constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are entitled to question their leaders, were treated to a serious rant by CS Joho.

He deplored that Kenyans are criticising the government through the internet, and using it to vilify President William Ruto’s administration.

Joho needs to remember that many articles in the constitution allow the public to air their views formally and informally.

The constitution allows for institutionalised and non-institutionalised participation.

It is written law, the supreme law of the land, and that’s that.

Fine, Kenyans sometimes may not have all the information necessary to properly articulate and air their views, but this is basically because of burnout, distrust and high perceptions of inequity. 

Some Kenyans are content with their leaders, but they are the very few, who are on the ‘right’ side of everything, be it in elite circles, in tribes, because of generational wealth, or simply by luck.

Most Kenyans, however, are struggling to make ends meet, because of lack of proper cushioning by the government.

RIGHT TO REBEL

Don’t they have the right to rebel? Not violently, of course.

Joho, might not understand, since he doesn’t struggle or have to live on less than $2 a day. There is high distrust among Kenyans, that’s why they might be ranting on the internet.

When projects are not completed on time, manifestos are not fulfilled, funds are embezzled, ‘slay’ politicians are brazenly showing off on the same internet; then what is left is distrust.

Inequity, which is simply lack of fairness or justice, is another big issue.

There is nothing like seeing Kenyans as one. Having equal development, equal access to justice, equal access to health care and education.

Of course, this cannot be achieved overnight, but the government can show some level of work in progress.

Once inequity is educed to a certain level, then the government will be seen to be working, and we citizens will shut up.

In the meantime, we continue advocating for our rights. More importantly, equality, freedom, justice, human rights, fairness, good governance, skilled leaders and democracy.

We are here to stay, Joho, and those who rant on social media, have every right to do so respectfully, be it as individuals, the civil society, the media, grassroots communities, among others.

Maybe our very able CS can now focus on calling for collaborations, good policies, institutional reforms and meaningful participation