Kenya is crying out for a credible opposition

After multi-party system and new constitution struggles, Kenya's next big agenda is implementing the Constitution, delivering effective devolution for inclusive development, guaranteeing economic security and quality service for all, and gender equality. This is crucial and needs strong voices and organised opposition.

True democracy thrives when there is credible opposition. Otherwise, there are likely to be adverse effects, including policies that are not suitable for a diverse nation as Kenya or in the worst case, political authoritarianism would emerge.

In a democracy and one as chaotic as ours, political parties with huge majorities and weak opposition have adversely impacted the growth and fortunes of the nation in many crucial areas.

There is no shortage of issues which need urgent attention and resolution, and which the opposition can take up and offer leadership. Whatever the government spin, the fact is the economy and financial status of the country is in serious trouble. Growth rates have dipped, unemployment and cost of living have hit the roof, there is a debilitating liquidity crisis, exports are virtually dead; there is crippling borrowing, debt and spending, the agriculture sector is reeling, investments are at a worrying low if not negative, there is serious threat to democracy and civic space. These and many others are issues that the opposition should be aggressively addressing.

The presence of a strong and active opposition is important for any democracy. While it is important to have a strong government, the weakening and marginalisation of the opposition is dangerous. Democracies work best when checks and balances are firmly in place and functioning. 

Historically, it has been proved that ruling parties with huge majorities have resulted in flawed if not highly authoritarian political and policy decisions which have hurt the country in a number of ways. There are several incontrovertible reasons for this. Political uniformity – imposed or by default – is the antithesis of a vibrant democracy. A democratic nation must have more than one view on issues which are effectively expressed and attentively heard so as to enrich the entire spectrum of the public policy landscape. A monochromatic political system, apart from becoming dangerously complacent, ultimately becomes resistant to questioning, challenge and change.

While it is important that the ruling party should have the confidence of the majority of citizens, there should also be a credible and effective opposition so that any propensities for forcing agendas that may be harmful for the nation are kept in check. It is only then that good governance,economic growth, security and sovereignty of the people, improvement of the lives of the masses and similar other aspects will remain top priority.

A maturing democracy needs a political counter-narrative. Only ceaseless interrogation can provide a bulwark against any tendency towards autocracy. A country requires a system of checks and balances. Some of these exist in the structure of the Constitution itself, but there can be no substitute for a vigilant opposition and active wananchi. This is especially important when the ruling party has such a large majority on its own. Large majorities nurture a tendency to dismiss any non-conforming viewpoints.

Kenya is a diverse country. Despite the ruling party’s numerical strength, there are issues of importance to vast numbers of people that cannot be brushed under a majoritarian narrative. To provide a voice to those who have been sidelined by a centrally-driven triumphal claim to invincibility is the job of the opposition.

Rallying point

Political opposition must shake off the stupor of defeat after election and begin to reconstruct a cohesive counter-narrative rather than desperately trying to find accommodation in the ruling party. This will not happen on its own. Leaders of the opposition need to learn lessons from the past, work towards a common and coordinated agenda, pool their resources, work out a practical line of action that has resonance with the people, and discover a new rallying point around leadership and issues.

Working in insular silos, nurturing oversized egos, waiting for some magic wand to make them relevant again without doing the selfless legwork that constructs a doctrine of protest, is not going to work. The opposition must be geared to provide the correcting critique to the ruling dispensation.

What the opposition needs to do most is to restore its credibility and frame its policy programme of action. For this, it must not only protest but also act responsibly and convince the people that it can be a viable alternative. 

 

Mr Ndung’u is Executive Director, International Centre for Policy and Conflict, @NdunguWainaina