Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA), a Nairobi based research firm based in Nairobi in one of their findings noted that Kenyans attendance in political rallies can stretch up to between 17% and 49% for normal rallies. Shockingly, TIFA noted that induced/paid rallies can attract between 49% and 65%.
If the above figures are anything to go by, it’s an indictment on Kenyans for their overwhelming sense of awe-inspiring adoration for politicians.
One question that begs for answers is what happens to the economy when such high numbers leave their daily engagements to attend those rallies. Definitely the dent is often huge given people close their businesses to attend those rallies. Equally, due to the nature of crowds which interfere with traffic flow and associated insecurity incidences, other people often close their businesses for fear of losses.
Mammoth Crowd in Past Political Rally (Photo: Alamy)
It is note debatable that at the family level, households too suffer. When the breadwinner lingers around rally venues and keeps on following politicians convoys all day long, chances of the family going to bed hungry remain high. I once overheard a rumor that some couples had their marriages broken down completely as the spouses would leave home at dusk and often didn’t return home as their kept on trailing political activities across different towns.
This kind of desperation is often associated with the false hope that politicians would dish out some cash often ranging between 20 to 200 shillings. This at times is never forthcoming as the political brokers disappear with all the loot. Definitely, unemployment and poverty are too high and politicians exploit this reality to the maximum.
Quite often, I always wonder if it is for the love of politics or sheer idleness that drives the craving to attend political activities. I once noticed that a political rally that was supposed to take place at 10am in the morning had people trooping in as early as 7am. Shockingly, the politicians had a “packed itinerary’’ and only made their way to the venue past 6pm. The crowds had braced hunger, dust and fatigue waiting to listen to the politicians’ rhetorics. I wondered why they had all the time and patience to wait for the politicians.
One thing is very clear that politicians had mastered the art of deceit and cleverly delivering it as hope for the suffering masses. Other crowds seemingly enjoy the standup comedies which the politicians act for free.
Comedy time: Kenyans jeer a politician dancing during a past rally (Photo: Instagram)
Kenyans by now need to understand that politicians are snake oil merchants who overpromise but deliver almost nothing. Politicians’ gimmicks can never and will never be a panacea for citizens’ plight.
My free advice to Kenyans is that politicians should never be accorded the deity status they assume. Let Kenyans concentrate on building their lives while at the same time, demanding accountability for their taxes. It is good to value and participate in political activities but as the old sages said, too much of everything is dangerous and counterproductive.
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