A nominated Member of the County Assembly (MCA) in Nairobi dragging the
Speaker Beatrice Elachi's seat out of the office on September 10, 2018.
MCAs had gone to her office to forcefully evict her. PHOTO | DENNIS
ONSONGO | NMG
Apparently we live in a represented democracy and the people elected represent us.
Over
the past few months, I’ve been wondering what Nairobi has become. Who
is representing us and are they really a reflection of us? Do we behave
this way? We have seen our governor recording his "achievements" and
using unconventional methods to solve issues.
However,
the most recent mindboggling, cringing and discombobulated moment was
watching Speaker Beatrice Elachi being kicked out of her office.
The
news video showed her standing beside a dark mahogany table. The kind
that you only purchase at brand furniture stores and probably costs
about six figures. And she tested her pepper spray to make sure that it
works.
As the television cameras rolled, and zoomed
into her fingertips, we saw a brown spray shoot out of the canister and
we watched as she smiled as if to say she was ready for whatever and she
took a small step forward.
Elachi was in other words
was digging in her feet, ready for battle. A nominated Member of the
County Assembly was trying to push her way through her. When she could
not reach her, she went for Ms Elachi's plush leather seat. Dragging it
out of the office...
What gangster life is this? Is
fighting now a necessary qualification to join city politics? What
happened to speaking and using avenues to resolve issues?
The
eye-opening bit was what the members were so upset about. They were mad
that the speaker was travelling on her own. Not sharing the
opportunities. It had nothing to do with mismanagement of the office.
Then
within the same week, on a public transport vehicle on a very popular
radio show, I hear our Senator speak about how the people should be
involved. Public participation is important. The people are called to
these meetings and they do not come.
I wish it were
that simple. First, how do people participate when they do not know what
participation looks like? People have been called to a meeting and a
budget is read to them. They have no idea why this is being done or what
it even means. They are only there because they heard that they may
receive a stipend –for some, just a meal.
The meetings
are randomly called and terribly advertised, making public participation
difficult. There are also cases of some of them starting so late and
taking so long that people give submissions that are not considered for
lack of time.
When we witness the capital becoming a
reality show, you have to ask the question: Is our leadership changing
and is this what they look like now?
People have been
short-changed, we hardly talk about how to build on the Constitution –
there is plenty of room for engagement but people do not know how to
engage. Because the people are unaware of the Constitution, it removes
their sovereign power to hold leaders accountable. Hence leaders can get
away with such outrageous shenanigans.
What is the
meaning of the Constitution if majority of the people do not apply it
because they do not understand it – it is just a collection of words on
paper? And the people are not taught how to participate. Our president
did mention that the Kenyan people know enough, so that organisation
that provide civic education are just wasting time.
It
is no surprise to hear people justify their lack of awareness to, “If so
and so has read the constitution, I do not need to,” following their
leaders like sheep when those same leaders are just as ignorant and
worse, have no desire to learn. What a democracy we live in.
Nerima Wako-Ojiwa is executive director of Siasa Place. Twitter: @NerimaW
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