Nearly three years to Kenya’s next general election, politicians are drumming for the support of their parties, for positioning and repositioning.
Citizens can hear them reverberating from a distance, and are watching the media with bated breath as the jostling builds to a crescendo.
With different political outfits on for 2027 elections, it’s time media guided the citizenry on the path to follow, to secure their rights, national dignity and free democratic space for the future
The media should inform the citizens the leaders they would choose will determine whether they will be free or at any politician’s mercy to enjoy their well-deserved rights.
During the campaign period, politicians’ big headache is how to win citizens trust to acquire power. Consequently, journalists should strive for content that will facilitate citizens to make the right choice.
In one of his public statements recently, Central Organisation of Trade Unions secretary general Francis Atwoli was quoted in the media as stating that the worker will not determine who the next occupant of State House will be, since Kenya’s voting patterns are swayed by ethnicity.
On January 29, The Star newspaper reported: “Atwoli dismissed claims by a section of politicians that the more than 3.2 million salaried Kenyans could influence the 2027 polls against President William Ruto. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been rallying formally employed Kenyans to unite against the Kenya Kwanza government over what he describes as excessive taxation”.
The story, titled “Atwoli to Gachagua: Payslip holder won’t oust Ruto in 2027”, further quoted Atwoli: “The notion that workers can be easily convinced depends on which workers you’re talking about. Politics in Kenya is not issue-based, ethnicity plays a major role.”
Between now and elections, the citizens’ power of vote is on trial. Media must not lose impartiality while navigating the murky waters of Kenya politics.
Journalists should report objectively as they champion citizens’ rights, including dignified treatment when giving opinions and inclusion in decision-making processes.
During the making of the current constitution, former president Daniel arap Moi, unhappy with how the process was delaying, didn’t think going round the country collecting citizens’ views was necessary.
In one of the public addresses he remarked: “The people gave us the mandate and empowered Members of Parliament to represent them. Of what use is it, to go back to ‘Wanjiku’ (citizen) to write the constitution?”
Renowned constitutional expert Prof Kivutha Kibwana wrote in The Nation on Saturday, July 18, 2020: “Moi’s ‘Wanjiku’ was an ‘unthinking voting machine’ dedicated to ‘churning’ overbearing political leaders every five years.
“Such a ‘Wanjiku’ was habitually manipulated through propaganda, handouts, tribal affiliation — and even violence — to legitimise a ruling class which, more often than not, rigged the elections,” Prof. Kibwana further stated in his commentary titled, ‘Time again for Wanjiku to stand up for her rights’.
The media has a critical role to play in building Wanjiku’s civic awareness and confidence to decide the leadership and destiny of her nation.
