SAM’S SENSE: Register, vote or shut up

It’s been nearly two weeks since the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission restarted the continuous voter registration. During that time, the trips to registration stations have been low. We have listened to Kenyans. There are those who see the essence of registering and those who have given up on that important step to joining the high table of decision-making in our democracy.

But wait — have we understood how consequential such a move would be?

I look at the Constitution of Kenya, which has defined our aspirations for the last 15 years. And in it, you will see the word democracy mentioned six times. At every mention, it is followed by words like social justice, participation of the people, regular free and fair elections, human rights, rule of law and more, largely recognising the importance of human dignity and the voice of each one of us when public decisions are being made.

However, there are constitutions and then there are politicians. They come in many colours, but mostly they are defined by interests. Those interests can vary in as many ways as there are politicians. Sometimes those interests are ethnic — or is it tribal; they are economic — or is it commercial. Sometimes financial, but mostly about preserving power, however small in scope.

Recently, we have seen the political class retreat to their interest cocoons to scheme on how best to capture seats in the upcoming by-elections. We have seen some candidates bought off, ceding space for alternative candidates. In some cases, we have seen a political party negotiating with aspirants to step down in exchange for government jobs and cash awards. We have also seen some candidates stepping down to preserve the pride of some kingpins in some regions.

In all those concessions, the people have come at the end — to listen to the decisions of men. Yes, men, not women, who, after “careful consideration and wide consultations,” have decided to back the candidature of Mr X. Quite democratic, isn’t it?

So, when you hear some young Kenyans saying they will not bother to register or even vote since there is nothing they can change, you may begin to understand where they are coming from.

Yet, Kenyans, we have so much power in our hands — more than we like to believe. Imagine, in the year 2022, fewer than 7.2 million Kenyans decided the presidential election. A whole 8 million Kenyans were registered but did not take part in that general election. Nobody knows what their aspirations were — or are.

Today, IEBC targets to register another 6.3 million Kenyans who have been issued with identity cards.

Even if IEBC succeeds in registering all of them, it will make no sense if they don’t participate in the next general election.

At a time when political parties and loose alliances scheme to predetermine the outcomes of the upcoming by-elections, it may seem a system already rigged to the disadvantage of Kenyans.

But there is hope. How about getting involved — including in those political parties — to stamp the authority of Kenyans in how they are governed, all the way from the community level to political parties and the institutions of governance.

You see, collectively, we have so much knowledge. At the individual level, each of us knows something. Each of us has an idea of what the right thing to do should be.

Each of us knows which road requires attention. Each of us knows something about our health sector, even if nobody asks. Each of us, indeed, makes a decision on what to eat, when to eat, where to eat, and with whom.

How about taking the future of our country seriously? And if you cannot listen to me, perhaps you could listen to an older man.

As Kibaki once said: “If you just hang around and don’t register, you’re useless. No, truly! You can’t be any useful because you are not participating in the development of Kenya. And if you are hanging around just eating — I mean, surely you can’t be any meaningful or useful.”