Tragedy is… dishonest leaders and ignorant voters

Men and women of the cloth should not dread Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja. [iStock]

One Kenyan recently said that electing some politicians is like keeping rats inside a silo. Given our reality, many agreed with him. Public office must be protected from greed and egoism.     

Often times, we do not imagine the perils of backing a candidate for reasons other than their suitability and capability to lead.

We risk being a country of regrets. When optimism is fast replaced with despair soon after every election, there is a problem. Soon after the 2017 General Election, disenchanted Jubilee supporters washed their hands off the party, despite voting in two elections. I am not sure why.

Dishonest politicians and unwise voters are a dangerous mix, even in mature democracies. That’s the truth. In The myth of the rational voter: Why democracies choose bad policies, author Bryan Kaplan challenges the argument that voters can be judicious people who make sound decisions.

In our time, voters will be wise the day they will abandon the tribe and the class to elect steadfast leaders. In my view, the August polls cannot just be defined by wishes, promises and the bravado of aspirants, rather by values that drive their ambitions. But there is what it takes to achieve this.

Opinion shapers must help make a judgment call on what is good or bad for the voters and the country, and proceed to give the moral reasoning from one stance or the other. Other than State agencies, the international community, development partners and the civil society, religious groups led by faith leaders must assert themselves more as a key cog in this process.

However, I fear faith leaders are missing in action despite their power of influence. With four months to the polls, their hands are off the deck. They seem unenthusiastic yet they should summon up our quest for a higher democratic potency now more than ever. Just what happened?

Not-so-good things occurred in the past. People called it “church capture by politicians.” Some churches were called out for taking cash from aspirants and allowing them the free will to misuse the pulpit to spew hate. Some clergy went for all manner of ‘gifts’.

But these notwithstanding, faith leaders must rise to the occasion to prepare us spiritually and morally for the August vote. A good way to start is by publicly and consistently dissuading graft, fraud, violence, hate, political exclusion and use of unmannerly tags – the mtu wa kitendawili, tapeli and mwizi type. These are things that region and the Biblical 10 commandments abhor.  

Men and women of the cloth should not dread Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja. William Ruto and Raila Odinga met the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in the UK. When will local faith leaders smoke out the rivals, ask them hard questions on behalf of Wanjiku and foster a healthy discourse between them and their allies?

The clergy faltered during the 2010 referendum. In 2007 and 2017, they failed to preach peace, leading to fatal outcomes. And their efforts to reconcile President Kenyatta and Dr Ruto after a messy divorce flopped badly. Now that we are pregnant with fresh expectations, they should make amends.  

Churches, mosques and other sanctuaries should take up civic education. Imams and pastors can sensitise voters on candidates’ manifestos. They could also take a position on divisive issues and contribute to policy besides rooting only for leaders who abide by religious values. We are a deeply religious nation. Faith leaders must be heard and felt at all times.     

During Moi days, there was a powerful voice, led by Ndingi Mwana-a-Nzeki, Alexander Muge, Henry Okulu and Timothy Njoya, among others who kept the regime on toes. They played a critical role in the liberation quest.

They had their own “cooperation” with the State. Their bravery and consistency led to reforms. It can still be done even in our time.  

The writer is an editor at The Standard. Twitter: markoloo