Broad-based government risks undermining our democracy

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi during the interview with The Standard Group at his offices in Nairobi . He recounted The Kenya Kwanza's achievements ,Challenges faced and the prospects of the year 2025 . December 17th,2024. [Elvis Ogina ,Standard]

It is understandable that the Kenya Kwanza coalition government, with its public trust deficit, seeks to expand and strengthen “the broad-based government.” There is wisdom in consolidating a divided society for the good of its citizens.

As a reminder, the inclusion of ODM, and recently Jubilee, top members into the broad-based government, which in all but name, is a replica of the “nusu mkate government”, was necessitated by the Gen Z protests in June last year. This is one of the government’s main strategies to de-escalate the nationwide protest. By repeatedly arguing that the broad-based government is meant to promote national unity, it is a fair admission that it risks sinking without including members outside the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition. There is nothing wrong with the strategic thinking here. It has given the government the cushion it needed to calm the storm that was gathering.

I believe this strategy, with all its best intentions for peace and justice, has serious pitfalls. I doubt the proponents reflected deeply and seriously on its shortcomings.

First, about three years into the next General Election, is a long time to sustain the main goal of this strategy, namely ensuring the government regains public trust to govern comfortably. The government needs a shoulder to lean on. ODM and Jubilee parties have generously offered their shoulders. But what is the cost of this shoulder to lean on?

Knowing how political games are played in Kenya, the government will have to contend with opening up more and sharing more seats and resources with the generous friends. However, a ruling party should focus on delivering its manifesto to the electorate. This kind of arrangement drains energy from the centre and risks creating little centres of power in government. Besides, boardroom deals and fights may distract the government from delivering its mandate.

Second, the concept and architect of this broad-based government draws us back to the essence of competitive democracy: Winners form a government, and runners-up become the opposition. A broad-based government that coils itself on the opposition for survival blurs the boundary between the two sides that define competitive democracy. How the minority party checks government excesses when it has crossed over to share the opponent’s vision undermines the spirit of competitive politics in a democracy. The opposition can still support the government on public interest policies without melting its identity.

Third, one lesson from the nusu mkate government of the late President Mwai Kibaki and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is the blame games that intensified towards the 2013 General Election. It is easy for the parties to spend time and resources blaming each other at the expense of actual development. The pitfall here is regurgitating the dangerous tribalism narrative of the government’s failure. Very soon, narratives of defence and attack will hinge on people’s tribe identities rather than evaluating them based on their performance. As reflected in the Constitution, the social contract between the people and the government outlines the functions and job descriptions of government office-bearers. Too many cooks spoil the soup, as the saying goes. The broad-based government removes focus from the main cook for an objective performance evaluation.

Lastly, the country faces the danger of becoming a mongrel government, with the negative effects spiraling to the county governments. It will soon start moving like an octopus. It may find itself aimlessly charging forward, retreating in the heat of sliding shoulders, sidetracking because of too many internal interests to attend to or uncontrollably flying wherever the political wind blows it. The centre has a real risk of losing its gravitas. Many government leaders and those who heavily benefit from being close to the trappings of power risk spending their energies on attacking real and perceived opponents. This kind of game takes away the national psyche for constructive dialogue to move the country forward.

To overcome these pitfalls, we have an obligation to respect and live by the Constitution’s dictates. Strong, competitive political parties provide an alternative government when the government’s performance is lacking. In this, we find peace.

Dr Mokua is the executive director of Loyola Centre for Media and Communication