Media should rethink its role in democracy

 

From left, Deputy President William Ruto, President Uhuru Kenyatta, former VP Kalonzo Musyoka (partly hidden) and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga leave KICC after a prayer service on October 1, 2013. PHOTO | PSCU  

In Summary

• It is not a secret that the content of political debate on radio or television is centred on the activities of the ruling coalition and/or the Orange Democratic Movement and its partners in the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord).
• Kenya has gone through tough times in the past two years. Our people have shown strong resolve and unity of purpose in the face of adversity, fighting terrorism and surviving hard economic times.

By MOHAMED WATO
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I have often wondered why the media have chosen to preoccupy themselves with past political actors when Kenya is a vibrant multiparty state with more than a dozen political parties.

It is not a secret that the content of political debate on radio or television is centred on the activities of the ruling coalition and/or the Orange Democratic Movement and its partners in the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord).

Granted, these actors are at the forefront, be it at the International Criminal Court or the referendum campaign.

However, this cannot be a good enough reason to relegate other important players such as former presidential candidates James ole Kiyiapi, Peter Kenneth, and the brutally honest Mohammed Abduba Dida to the sidelines. 

Granted, Cord and Jubilee are pacesetters, the main political parties in the country. However, they do not have monopoly over the political and democratic ideas of modern times. A false assumption has gained currency in Kenya where political leadership is thought to be the preserve of these two hegemonies.

LOST BATTLE

The Fourth Estate has lost the battle for innovative thinking in terms of eliciting views and expectations from the minority in catalysing opportunity for the political competition needed for future national transformation. The media seem comfortable with the misguided notion that our country’s fate is tied to the destiny of Jubilee or Cord.

Yet things have changed drastically — with the large government we have created and the democratic freedoms we have acquired with the authority of our new Constitution. Political partnership will be messy in the near future because potential and prospective politicians are clear about the terms and returns of political posts.

They are getting ready for a serious challenge in 2017 — and certainly not on behalf of the people. 

Kenya has gone through tough times in the past two years. Our people have shown strong resolve and unity of purpose in the face of adversity, fighting terrorism and surviving hard economic times.

WORTH REPORTING

On a positive note, groundbreaking projects such as the geothermal plant in Naivasha and the standard gauge railway are flagship developments worth reporting. On the flipside, mega corruption such as land grabbing in Lamu and Karen is a testament of the cancer ravaging the nation.

We can predict political dynamics fairly accurately while the Kenyan voter is more empowered under the new political dispensation of devolved government. People at the grassroots consider local representatives their focal point for political leadership, making traditional models of lobbying and mobilising support untenable.

We are yet to reach a point where constituencies can shape governance based on issues. Luckily, the electorate is well placed to separate political gimmicks from tangible programmes.

In the face of this reality, it is important to have media that go out aggressively to decipher the unknown political equations in the devolution environment. If this is not done, there is real danger of the nation suffering a crippling fallout. It is important to inform the nation objectively.

Mr Wato is a retired army major who lives in New York. (watokames@yahoo.com)

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