The beauty of democracy surely lies in vibrant opposition politics!
No running away from this open secret. opposition is an integral
part in the running of public affairs within a democracy.
Opposition represents alternative government or a government
in waiting. To prove their mettle, such a party must always project
counter policies as well valuable criticism to the government of the
day.
So what dulls so much the politics of East Africa?
The killing of opposition in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The year 2017 was of great political turmoil in Kenya.
A greater chunk of political parties united to front a single
presidential bid under National Super Alliance (NASA),
and this union was indeed a threat to the ruling party Jubilee.
Methinks, one of the strategies of winning the election that year
was to weaken the opposition by all means. NASA supporters
were mostly branded as violent and thereby justifying setting the
police upon them at the slightest attempt to protest at anything.
Picking on opposition leaders was a key strategy in the Moi era.
Surprisingly, this continues to date. Even within the ruling party,
members who are seen as not very loyal also face intimidation
from government machinery.
To a major extent, the new constitution of Kenya tried to create
a more easy image for the opposition by adopting the concept of
majority and minority in parliament but this has not worked well.
Obviously, nobody can deliver anything in an environment of fear and
intimidation. Perhaps on realizing this, The NASA leader, Raila Odinga,
on March 9th 2018 accepted to go easy on his role of opposition and
support the agenda of the Kenya's ruling party. Since then, it has been
unclear how the opposition role is to inform governance in Kenya.
In recent years, opposition politics in Uganda have been synonymous with
Dr Kiza Besigye who has always been very vocal as the leader of Forum
for Democratic Change party. Besigye has faced the wrath of government
machinery many times. The role of opposition sometimes requires protests,
something which the government of Uganda has never allowed him to do.
Any attempt at such would lead to him being clobbered or even prevented
from leaving his house by police.
Bobi Wine, a member of parliament who has recently been criticizing
President Museveni, has also been beaten up by police for various reasons.
Bobi has made it public that he will run for office of the President of Uganda
in 2021. Such ambition is invigorating in a dull a atmosphere.
In Tanzania, opposition leaders such Tundu Lissu, Zitto Kabwe and
Freeman Mbowe are not having it easy under Pombe Magufuli's administration.
They have found themselves facing court cases, most of which are related to
their political work.
From Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi we see parliaments that
are not keen to deliver oversight upon the executive. Some laws that undermine
civil societies and independent voices have been enacted in these countries.
Worse still, cohesion between the states of East Africa has grown a bit cool
over the years. It suffices to say that after the tenure of such leaders as Uhuru Kenyatta,
Yoweri Kaguta and Pombe Magufuli, the region will have to go back to the drawing board
if the dream of real unity that involves citizens is to be realized.
No running away from this open secret. opposition is an integral
part in the running of public affairs within a democracy.
Opposition represents alternative government or a government
in waiting. To prove their mettle, such a party must always project
counter policies as well valuable criticism to the government of the
day.
So what dulls so much the politics of East Africa?
The killing of opposition in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The year 2017 was of great political turmoil in Kenya.
A greater chunk of political parties united to front a single
presidential bid under National Super Alliance (NASA),
and this union was indeed a threat to the ruling party Jubilee.
Methinks, one of the strategies of winning the election that year
was to weaken the opposition by all means. NASA supporters
were mostly branded as violent and thereby justifying setting the
police upon them at the slightest attempt to protest at anything.
Picking on opposition leaders was a key strategy in the Moi era.
Surprisingly, this continues to date. Even within the ruling party,
members who are seen as not very loyal also face intimidation
from government machinery.
To a major extent, the new constitution of Kenya tried to create
a more easy image for the opposition by adopting the concept of
majority and minority in parliament but this has not worked well.
Obviously, nobody can deliver anything in an environment of fear and
intimidation. Perhaps on realizing this, The NASA leader, Raila Odinga,
on March 9th 2018 accepted to go easy on his role of opposition and
support the agenda of the Kenya's ruling party. Since then, it has been
unclear how the opposition role is to inform governance in Kenya.
In recent years, opposition politics in Uganda have been synonymous with
Dr Kiza Besigye who has always been very vocal as the leader of Forum
for Democratic Change party. Besigye has faced the wrath of government
machinery many times. The role of opposition sometimes requires protests,
something which the government of Uganda has never allowed him to do.
Any attempt at such would lead to him being clobbered or even prevented
from leaving his house by police.
Bobi Wine, a member of parliament who has recently been criticizing
President Museveni, has also been beaten up by police for various reasons.
Bobi has made it public that he will run for office of the President of Uganda
in 2021. Such ambition is invigorating in a dull a atmosphere.
In Tanzania, opposition leaders such Tundu Lissu, Zitto Kabwe and
Freeman Mbowe are not having it easy under Pombe Magufuli's administration.
They have found themselves facing court cases, most of which are related to
their political work.
From Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi we see parliaments that
are not keen to deliver oversight upon the executive. Some laws that undermine
civil societies and independent voices have been enacted in these countries.
Worse still, cohesion between the states of East Africa has grown a bit cool
over the years. It suffices to say that after the tenure of such leaders as Uhuru Kenyatta,
Yoweri Kaguta and Pombe Magufuli, the region will have to go back to the drawing board
if the dream of real unity that involves citizens is to be realized.
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| The handshake moment that altered politics of Kenya |
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