This archive report was first published on 4 January 2020.
January 4, 2020, marked a day when Kandara MP Alice Wahome's true colours were on full display. In a shocking display of disrespect, she called her constituents 'fools' for electing her and other leaders who have failed to deliver.
Ms Wahome's outburst was sparked by a concerned citizen who took her to task over the sorry state of toilets at Kariguini Primary School in Kandara Constituency. The photographs on Twitter showed the dilapidated and pathetic state of the school's infrastructure, leaving many to wonder how a leader could respond in such a manner.
Ms Wahome's response was nothing short of astonishing: 'That is the shame of school infrastructure in Kenya. Not just Kandara. Jingawewe.' Her words were a clear indication of her disdain for her constituents and a lack of accountability for her actions.
But Ms Wahome is not alone in her shameless public outburst. Many politicians have engaged in disrespectful ways, including a former governor who asked female electorates to queue neatly in a certain manner to receive their daily dues.
However, as much as we would wish to criticize our leaders, we must also acknowledge the uncomfortable truth. We are indeed fools for electing governors with barely any qualifications and careers to talk about as our leaders. We are fools for electing people who we are too timid to question their source of wealth, because we all know too well where all that came from.
Ms Chege is the director of the Innovation Centre at Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications.
