BBI should lead to the rebirth of democracy

John Dewey was one of the foremost liberal philosophers in the US. His main focus was always education, which he analysed from a psychological as well as from a philosophical point of view.

He was considered “dangerously liberal” but in reality, his thought was so modern that his works are still relevant to date.

Dewey’s pragmatism is quite fascinating. He never took any truth for granted just because it was the prevalent one of his time. This also pertained to his political thought.

While a great believer in democracy, he was pragmatic enough to understand that on the one hand, no democratic system is perfect and, on the other hand, no democratic system is immune to forces which might destroy it.

Not everyone appreciates the freedom and liberty of democracy just because he has been born into one.

Hence he wrote that democracy “has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife”. I find great truth in this saying. We can observe how society undergoes incredible changes in front of our eyes, just because of the penetration of the Internet and smartphones into every aspect of life.

It makes sense then that our democratic system needs to evolve as well.

There are different democratic systems which befit different generations. Each generation faces its own unique challenges and thus needs a different, tailor-made political solutions to tackle them.

It makes sense that at the start of our life as a free nation after our independence, we needed a political system which just “gets stuff done”.

Whether it be the building of infrastructure or establishment of a nation-wide educational system, there were too many mammoth projects which needed a swift response through a strong Executive, with much power concentrated in the hands of one person, democratically elected but with adequate representation of all of Kenya’s diversity in the corridors of power.

But times have changed. We have consolidated our country, and are a leading nation in Eastern Africa–proportionately, a bigger, sophisticated and diversified economy, an educated and better skilled workforce, better and robust infrastructure; our universities churn out more graduates than any other country in the region; our military is the best equipped and most sophisticated in the region and most of the continent.

But then our problems have shifted. Where we once needed to effectively allocate resources to create the basic infrastructure of a modern state such as international airports and naval ports, we now need to ensure a fair distribution of our much greater resources. Where once foreign menaces were the biggest threat to our nation, today we are too strong for any foe – but we risk tearing ourselves apart, from the inside.

This inherent danger calls for a reform of the political system to one that shifts towards a more proportional representation of all the different ethnicities that make up the beautiful mosaic of Kenya.

Only such representation will increase the identification of Kenyans of all creed with their state and its institutions. That probably is the only way to ensure a more peaceful and prosperous future.

Representation which is fairer to all groups making up Kenya, and thus will foster peace and harmony across the board, offers a guarantee for peace and prosperity in the future. What is needed is a system that unites all of us at such a critical stage of our nation’s history where intra-continental and geopolitical challenges abound.

Heart surgery

But to change the existing political system, without a coup or spilling of any blood, is as complicated as an open-heart surgery.

In the spirit of Dewey, the only way to succeed in this endeavour lies in educating Kenyans on the importance and necessity of such a drastic move.

And this is exactly what ought to follow after the Building Bridges Initiative is unveiled.

I am convinced that such an illustrious and diverse panel of experts will arrive at the proper form of the rebirth of Kenyan democracy as demanded by our generation. But I expect journalists, thought-leaders and opinion leaders to educate the people in a fair and objective manner of the proposed changes so that the people can make a conscious but necessary decision for a better future.

Every day, I see a bright and talented generation of young Kenyans everywhere I go; in the office, on the streets, online in schools and colleges.

They deserve a country built upon a political system which takes into account their diversity and represents them all. They deserve a system that truly befits their generation.

Mr Maore is the MP for Igembe North