How patriotic are Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta?

No country can exist without having people. Otherwise, it risks becoming just a barren land. People come first with well-defined geographic territory. For our case Kenyans adhere to any culture with differing languages and religions. But they all are equal and deserve equal treatment

Politics is the best way to serve people. This ought to be a very noble pursuit in life requiring honesty, transparency, selflessness, diligence and dedication. In a democratic society, politicians derive power from people and given a nod to exercise governance with accountability. Political leaders must show people’s dreams and must know how to implement them. Politics in a democratic society must depict mutual respect, trust, confidence and compromises. Do we observe all these in the current political environment in Kenya?

The problem we are having in Kenya is that patriotism is now defined by the political party you support. Moreover, if your beliefs run counter to a political party, you are regarded as anti-patriot. Patriotism means calling our nation out for its problems and troubles. Politicians spend a lot of time blaming each other. Over the last one week we have seen the key political leaders turning the war on corruption in to a ping- pong of all sorts. President Uhuru Kenyatta with his brigades have been on the fore front to deny existence of corruption in the government even as details of the NYS scam keep unfolding at the dawn of every day. On the other hand Cord Principal Raila Odinga has been accused of applying double standards, accusing Jubilee when issues of corruption flares up but remaining silent when the same is raised in Cord counties.

Fighting anything that puts one’s nation in harm ought to become a patriot’s passion. This means fraudulent conducts such as corruption, which poses a clear and present danger to the corporate existence of Kenya ought to be fought and addressed without fear of victimisation. Corruption retards economic development and enhances social ills. Excess greed for money makes people corrupt.

It’s healthy to disagree with government policies. Leaders and indeed all citizens must do so without being unsupportive and an obstruction to the common good. It is the duty of all Kenyans to interrogate issues that affect them and question everything that must be questioned without fear of harassment. I believe this is where we have taken a wrong turn. Our refusal to be criticised has got us going crazy because not only has it stifled meaningful political and economic discourse, but also public opinion. I believe it is okay for us to disagree on matters and still respect each other as a people, who in our own peculiar ways want what we think, is best for our country.

 It is easy; from time to time, to lose sight of the fact that that person with the complete opposite point of view most likely loves their country every bit as much as the one who doesn’t. Criticism should be accepted as an evaluation of active interest in the life of our country. I encourage political parties to deconstruct the superiority mind-set and understand that their ideas for government are not the only way that a country could be run competently.

 If a person believes in this country, they should be conscious that the expression of it may have to go against the government. Criticism is not bad and neither should it lead to deep rooted animosity, but a way of appreciating our diverse differences. These differences are meant to be integrated and bring us to a place of commonality. Politics of emotion must be taken out of our society because patriotism gives us a sense of identity and must never be used for selfish political gains.

 Whether Jubilee believes that the status quo of Kenyan politics is the best way to govern, or Cord believes fundamental changes are needed, both must be respected, but be willing to be corrected. Instead of finger pointing, which has been the trend over the last four years; political parties must echo the concept of patriotism and understand that a person is not anti-patriotic when they have a different view. Our diversity is what defines us as a nation. No matter how jaded, we’re still at our happiest when we’re proud to be Kenyans.