Naomi Klein, a Naomi Klein a Canadian author, social activist, and filmmaker once observed that; “The truly powerful feed ideology to the masses like fast food while they dine on the most rarified delicacy of all: impunity.’’
Klein, must have observed the political party situation in Kenya because as it looks, the situation apparently is the true picture. Kenyans love new slogans which represent apparently no tangible ideology and the more open ended it is, the more palatable to them.
Political parties in Kenya are like snakes that shed their skin to reveal a smooth velvety and attractive look despite the fact the venom and slyness remain unshed. Despite the imminent danger, Kenyans swallow the manipulation; hook, line, and sinker.
Winston Churchill once noted that politicians manipulate citizens by adapting to changing political situations by altering their stands. He noted that “Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; other their principles for the sake of their party”.
At independence, the state and the ruling political party was inseparable. The Kenya African National Union (KANU) was government and government was KANU. KANU came into power promising Kenyans hope and good tidings. Once in power the party swerved from radical nationalism to conservative bourgeois politics. All along, we were fed to slogans like, KANU ni mama na baba translating to KANU is mother and Father of Kenyans and therefore total loyalty was expected. Despite the party promising all hope, it delivered poverty, repression and underdevelopment.
The art of empty slogans started here: (Photo: KANU)
KANU was violently ousted from power by the Nation (NARC) which came to power in 2002 with immense promises of ending corruption, reviving the economy, and enacting a new constitution.
Kenyans’ hopes were raised and welcomed the new kid on the block on a promised ideology of ‘’second liberation.” Kenyans celebrated, with the hope renewed for political and leadership renaissance. That coalition eventually fractured due to unfulfilled Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreements and internal wrangles between various faction leaders crushing the hopes of Kenyans. It later dawned that it’s only the monkeys who changed but the forest remained the same, dense and savage.
Smooth talkers but cards under the table: Preying on hopeless citizens with the NARC dream of second liberation (Photo: Daily Nation)
Tired and disappointed, Kenyans’ thirst for change of leadership were given another dose of veiled lies. The same fellows who had duped Kenyans, changed tune and paraded themselves as reformers for a mess they had created. Ironically, Mwai Kibaki, the then president on NARC ticket, founded the Party of National Unity (PNU) on September 16, 2007, as a political coalition for the December 2007 general elections. So, if NARC was a reformist party, why jump ship? Interestingly, PNU had membership from KANU and NARC-Kenya, a splinter of the NARC party. Who was fooling who here?
In 2008, The National Alliance party of Kenya (NAK) was re-registered in 2008 under the new Political Parties Act 2007 as an independent party from its previous mother PNU. Later in April 2012 the Party also changed its initials from NAK to NAPK. In December 2012 Uhuru Kenyatta, TNA’s presumed presidential candidate, William Ruto of the URP and several other prominent politicians signed a pre-election deal outlining how the parties would share seats in a coalition government, later forming the Jubilee Alliance, which supported Kenyatta’s bid for the presidency, winning the subsequent elections. It is very interesting how men and women who belonged to the original KANU maneuvered their ways, changing with times to remain relevant.
Resetting the snare; empty promises empty ideology. (Photo: BBC)
The Jubilee Party of Kenya was founded on 8 September 2016 emerging from a merger of 11 smaller parties, including The National Alliance (TNA). Interestingly, President Uhuru Kenyatta and the United Republican Party (URP) led by then-Deputy President William Ruto, Jubilee quickly won the elections and continued to steer the government.
2022 soon arrived and the tenants of the TNA party jumped ship and formed the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Apparently, the TNA Vice President, used the new vehicle, loaded with new slogans, won the elections and is currently the head of state.
From red to Yellow; political party repackaging- TNA to UDA
The question which Kenyans need to ask themselves is whether political parties in Kenya amount to anything in terms of advancing the lives of Kenyans. Is it that Kenyans get attracted to the package regardless of the content?
A political party should be grounded on a strong ideology and any slogans associated with the same should have an aspiration, a direction and inspiration. Wantam or Tutam, is not an ideology, it’s empty rhetoric.
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