This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
Published on August 3, 2019, a video clip went viral, showcasing a Nigerian woman's dehumanizing experience at the hands of a Canadian man. Her words, 'The economy is bad. The government is corrupt,' resonated deeply, prompting profound questions about Kenyan politics.
Why do we elect corrupt leaders? Are we powerless or simply stupid? The simplest answer is that they rig themselves into power. But is this truly the case?
Consider the past decade: Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto formed government, and since then, we've witnessed countless cases of corruption and embezzlement. Nurses and teachers have gone on strike, and the rate of youth unemployment is alarming. Yet, President Kenyatta prefers to rehire retired old men, some in their deathbeds.
Do we hate ourselves that much? The level of corruption at county governments is alarming. Look at Wajir, Homabay, Mombasa, Nairobi, Machakos, Migori, and Siaya counties – do they have functioning governments? Yet, we're already vouching for these corrupt governors in the upcoming 2022 elections.
Here's another man we want to be president in 2022: a man who grabbed a primary school's land, built a luxury hotel, and teargassed helpless pupils. A man who walks around with millions of money, buying sycophants while teachers, nurses, doctors, and dons are on strike. A man named in numerous cases of theft, yet some of us are campaigning for him.
Citizens, it's hard to beat rigging, but it can be done. They rig because they have something to add to the stolen numbers. Deny them the little they add to the stolen. Electing a thief once is excusable, but twice?
