This year’s General Election bears telltale signs of a revolution- albeit mild. Of course, there are no guillotines. Still, a case in point is the apparent shifts of affiliation in what were hitherto secure voting blocs for ethnic chieftains. Then, big money appears to have had little sway in some constituencies as big shots tumbled in nominations. This shift of Will and perspective is intriguing.
There’s more. Grassroots voices that seep into the media express strong displeasure on the imposition of local government candidates especially at the county. Initially prejudiced to vote uniformly for all candidates of the same party regardless of credentials (six-piece) this year some voters are promising to defy the twisted logic to produce broken suits. Thus, we might witness the highest number of independents elected. Such cases may be few. Still, they form a Petri dish that will nurture a movement that will revolutionize how local government is constituted and managed.
Indeed, the people’s consciousness of, and interest in, the nature and operations of county governments will be a gamechanger. See, the essence of devolution was empowerment. Sadly, the political class hijacked the gift that the citizens bequeathed themselves through the constitution. The political class then raided Wanjiku’s purse and delivered air, if media accounts of corruption at the devolved units, and the sorry state of development in counties is anything to go by. Meanwhile Wanjiku was reduced into a mere voting machine. Humiliated too to begging “serikali saidia” (please the state help us).
Yet, it shouldn’t be like this. The construct of the local government meant a theatre for Wanjiku to make sense of issues and direct own development. Wanjiku knows where it pinches. This could be feeder roads, health care, market structures, water, and or security. Honchos at the party headquarters are normally clueless of grassroots dynamics. That’s why there is a wind of change.
Democracy in America
In other jurisdictions, citizens take local governance seriously. They hold town hall meetings or surgeries, as is the case in Britain. They deliberate and hold leaders to account. That model augments representation and spurs growth. In his magisterial book, Democracy in America, written in 1830s, French political philosopher, Alexis de Tocqueville saw the power of local government firsthand as critical for democracy, liberties and distribution of opportunities and wealth. “Local assemblies of citizens constitute the strength of free nations,” Tocqueville reckoned.
Small wonder today, America has 87, 576 local units, 3,034 counties, 19,429 municipalities and 16,504 townships. That’s elaborate and nuanced. Such network creates a fantastic platform for civic participation. Kenya’s 47 Counties and about 295 sub-counties with 1,450 civic wards to boot, should now start to attract citizen passions engagement on civic issues just like the US.
Indeed, in the US of Tocqueville, it is the very spirit and essence of civic duty and citizen participation at town hall meetings that contributed to the American exceptionalism.
Colonial Construct
Indeed, the grassroots Kenya need to wean itself from the colonial construct, then party-state mentality of provincial administration and orders so entrenched into the psyche. Instead, folks should learn that they are in charge of their fate which is participatory development.
But this is not to say that folks at the grassroots will always have a solid grasp of issues and attend to them objectively. Nay. As Tocqueville observed, local government could be “instinctive, blind, full of prejudices, devoid of rules.”
This challenge, which is traceable even in our system, can be fixed. It requires engineering – robust civic education. See, though unto us a county government came, the population needed empowerment to engage meaningfully. Therefore, there’s a strong case for rigorous civic education regime that will help to tailor active civic-conscious populations. Such population for instance should be primed for deliberative democracy especially by holding town hall meetings with the county executives and elected leaders.
A culture of participatory local debates will help voters to refine their needs, build confidence and gain insight and perspective. This framework will activate the ultimate sphere of influence that will hold leaders accountable and procure service delivery to the people.
Follow on Twitter: @manjis