2022 Elections and the Kenya You Want

As we approach the 2022 General Elections, Kenyans have been split down the middle in terms of the person and party they identify with. Some are team Hustler and some are team Azimio. For those of you who are new in Kenya, Team hustler is associated with William Samoei Ruto and team Azimio is associated with Raila Amollo Odinga. These two were once in one political party and very good friends, and just like the bromance in the jubilee party, they parted ways and now are bitter enemies.

Photo: courtesy.
Ruto's motorcade was stoned in kondele.

Nonetheless, regardless of the side, you identify with, we are all Kenyans first and foremost and have some basic ideas and expectations that we look up to in the leaders that we need. Whether you love Ruto or Raila am sure we both want peaceful leaders and a peaceful Kenya after the elections. And even as we go about chanting 'Kazi ni Kazi or 'azimio la umoja' we must agree that both slogans depict and give an inkling of what Kenyans aspire to have before and after the coming general elections. I have watched with dismay the display of bravado and chest-thumping from both divides and I must say if this is left unchecked it's a recipe for chaos. The other day we witnessed chaos in Kondele town, in Kisumu City, that left many Kenyans dumbfounded, the same was also witnessed in Muranga and Githurai 44 when Raila tried to 'climb the mountain'. For those of us who were around in 2007 and witnessed the post-election violence, you will remember this is how it all started. It was left unchecked and eventually exploded into what we all know now as 2007 post-election violence. All the traditional hotspots are ablaze once again and we are all fanning the fire.

So as we approach the 2022 election, a question we all need to be asking ourselves is, is this the Kenya we all want? Is this the kind of inheritance we plan on leaving to our kids? If we are not going to check on our politics early enough and tame these politicians who make us fight in every election cycle, then this is exactly what we are going to bequeath our children, their children, and the entire future generation. Elections will come and go but this country will be here several years to come, so my fellow countrymen let's be wise. We can have a difference of opinions and still coexist among ourselves as brothers and sisters, after all, whoever is elected president in 2022 will not have either of us on his payroll and provide for us. We still will have to bust our asses off to feed, cloth, and have a roof over our heads. And this is the Kenya we both want.