Could there be spoilers after the initial well-meaning #RejectFinanceBill protests that started on June 18 and have escalated into something that even the leaders in the country cannot seem to solve?
Typically, in any conflict, especially where power is challenged, spoilers are a characteristic that cannot be overlooked. Spoilers are warring parties and their leaders who believe that peaceful settlement of disputes threatens their interests, power and their reputation.
This borrowed definition means that spoilers can be leaders, both in the ruling party or the opposition. It can also be their electorate, meaning ordinary citizens. They can be from the business caucus or local or international development partners. They can be the media, religious leaders, certain communities and the list is endless.
The aftermath of the #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests has been marred by spoilers. This starts with the MPs themselves, and the careless talk that we witnessed from some of them during the parliamentary debates and the voting process when the bill was being passed through the readings.
Then the opposition, that went on to side with the Gen Z, while fuelling what would be termed as incitement for the Gen Z to carry on with the protests, despite most of their demands being met.
Well known celebrities and influencers, especially those on social media, have been spoilers, by spreading non-verified information that would amount to misinformation and disinformation.
Famous activists also took advantage of the situation to push for other agenda beyond the contentious Bill, which was later thrown away by the President. They say latent issues can never be wished away. But if there's still poverty, unemployment, corruption and broken systems, then it is expected that issues would come up. And through the seasoned activists, the issues are now taking centre stage and fuelling the ongoing protests.
Besides, there are local, regional and international organisations that would take sides, depending on where their interests and ideologies align. These, to me, can be the best or most dangerous spoilers in the ongoing tension. They could advise well or misadvise and any goof can worsen the political tension in the country.
Are all spoilers bad? No. Some may delay the conflict process, until the warring parties either get tired, give up or get more pressing priorities. Other spoilers, might end up being the dialogue mediators.
And yes, spoilers can be bad. As seen, when some of our leaders just decide to talk, everything goes south. Some leaders like Raila Odinga, have huge followers with huge expectations, and he can be a spoiler, when he opposes the ongoing sort of revolution, given that he is a not new to the streets and advocating change.
Other spoilers can be like Cabinet nominee Duale, who just out of an appointment, he sets up a lavish gathering to celebrate, how 'simba is back'. Yet, it is such a show of opulence and possible misuse of public funds and misuse of authority that the President was trying to fight when he dissolved the previous Cabinet, where the same Duale served.
Those that work for our leaders, on either divide, can also be spoilers. They can leak crucial information, before and after any agreement, dialogue, mediation or negotiation processes. We the citizens may not need to know everything, except where our public participation is needed in policymaking processes. However, as it is, anything can be leaked any minute on social media, which can lead to misinformation and disinformation and fuel anger and tension that is already in the country.
The youth themselves can be spoilers to their own demands. Having goons within themselves is the ultimate let down of any positive revolution. However, it’s also good to note that some politicians on either divide can also bring in goons to spoil noble causes.
The clergy or religious leaders have been big spoilers in the governance of the country, being accused of always ‘going to bed’ with the government. Religious leaders command a huge following, and aligning themselves to one side of the divide will only lead to polarisation among their followers. Going for photo opportunities with political leaders at this point is just spoiling any ongoing peaceful processes, because it communicates partisanship.
Spoilers do not always have to benefit from their spoiler behaviour. This article just cites a drop in the ocean of the spoiler possibilities. The President needs to have a team that advises him well on how to deal with this situation, which can breed positive or negative results. Spoilers do not have to get their demands entirely, and neither should they be left out. Some non-negotiable demands can always be fulfilled or accommodated by other parties in this ongoing stalemate.
Democracy support researcher and scholar based in Sweden, [email protected]