Economy, Healthcare: The Foremost Two ‘Political Ideologies’ in Kenya’s 2022 Presidential Elections.
By Jude Thaddeus.
Image: CGTN
If there is one thing that Kenyans have agreed on, over a couple of years past, is that the economy has been hanging on a cliff. GDP projections and mega infrastructural projects notwithstanding. And on top of it, Kenyans are equally in agreement that there exists a Healthcare crisis. Whether in terms of availability, accessibility, affordability, or, in terms of the general rise of lifestyle ailments within the society.
The 2022 presidential campaigns have seen contenders try as much as possible to convince the electorate on their plans to address some — mostly the economic bit — of the main issues affecting the Nation. And whichever terms they choose to use, it still boils down to jobs, food, fuel, medicine, hospitals et cetera. Economy! Economy! Economy!
A report on Global Hunger Index 2021 has ranked Kenya at position 87 out of select 135 Countries. 135th Country being the most ravaged by hunger. However, of the 135, 19 Countries did not have much needed data for tabulation. Leaving only 116 Countries with accurate entries. Kenya’s data shows that one (1) out of every five (5) Kenyans is today going to bed completely without food.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his campaigns has termed the 2022 elections as the third and last liberation. The economic liberation.
Amani National Congress presidential hopeful, Musalia Mudavadi, in his tusidanganyane address, plainly stated that the Country is Broke. (Tusidanganyane is a Swahili word which translates to ‘let’s not deceive each other’)
Deputy President William Ruto has for a long time now been able to sustain a ‘bottom up economic model’ campaign. Targeting the youth and the so called ‘hustling’ populations of the Country.
I asked the youngest presidential aspirant — who is still a youth — Mr. Pigbin Odimwengu, of the Accountability and Transparency Party, on the main areas in which he intends to effect change in case he becomes president. Top on his list was Public Healthcare. Availability of healthcare, accessibility, affordability, and the increase in lifestyle diseases, are all joined by the hip to a Country’s economic environment.
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Pundits, academicians, media, on their part, are all trying to figure out whether the 2022 contest is now setting the stage for an ‘ideology based’, or even ‘issue based’ political contests moving forward — and whether the ordinary Kenyan has sufficiently been roped in in this ideology discourse.
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In so far as the biting economic realities are concerned, politics, in its nature, remains emotive. And this is where politicians capitalize by evoking such emotions so as to ensure voters remain as irrational as possible — even just for a moment — during voting. With a potential risk of voters voting blindly — forgetting the main reason for their voting.
So, will the 2022 presidential election, as the trend seems to suggest, lead to an all out ‘issue based’ outcome?
The jury is still out. But, one thing for sure, in every presidential secretariat today, is the reality of how the Kenyan voter has become so unpredictable. No single secratariat, less than 7 months to election, can confidently say that they have already mapped out, and locked in, their numbers. Thus, the time and resources being mobilized in an attempt to build various coalitions. Worse, the Kanyan voter has increasingly become apathetic. A sizable number of those registered to vote showing no interest of participating in the 9th August polls. And another sizable number of potential voters showing no interest in registering themselves as voters.
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This then creates a leeway for political mischief. The above two categories of Kenyans — those registered to vote, but reluctant to do so, plus those reluctant to register — will, unfortunately, have to be ‘whipped’ to play ball. This, through evoking political emotions. Which then leads to propaganda, character assassination, ethnic mobilization among other strategies that politicians know too well how to utilize.
And the end results? Issue based political discource tossed out of the window.
So you end up with voting blocs that will be so eager to vote (due to charged emotions), but not so enthusiastic about voting for their main issues. Which as outlined earlier, topping the list, remain the economy, and healthcare.
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It is prudent therefore for the various other Political and Governance stakeholders (apart from the mainstream aspirants) to rise up to the occassion — and ensure that the issue based discourse remains on course. With facts and figures. Enlightening and recharging the general populace.
These including the media, civil society, public intellectuals and other pressure groups who have, unfortunately, for a long time now remained underground. Leaving aspirants to dominate the show.
They need, for instance, to tackle the debt issue head on. Engage the populace plus the aspirants on the 8 trillion shilling plus debt — and rising. And push to get clearer action plans from aspirants.
They need to engage entrepreneurs and innovators on challenges they face trying to turn around the economic prospects of this Country — while competing globally. Get the aspirants to give in depth analysis of their solutions. Not just slogans.
The youth, who form the bulk of those going to bed hungry today, need to put a step forward and objectively engage both their representatives, and the emerging aspirants. They should make it clear to them that 2022 will not be business as usual. No voting just for the sake of it. But voting for their own aspirations.
The general citizenry, media included, need to put the Electoral body to task. To ensure a free, fair, credible, transparent, simple, inclusive, verifiable election takes place this 2022. To give the various other actors an easy job post elections.
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The economy is in no doubt hanging on a cliff. Human dignity is at stake. And it will have to take courage, and the personal initiative of each and every Kenyan to reflect about it, and make the most sober decisions that they have ever made pre and post elections.
2022 is not just another election year.
About the Author;
Jude Thaddeus is an Entrepreneur, a Sociopolitical Commentator / Strategist, Author, and Team Lead @ Brave Politics.
