Those of you who cherish matters progress (in its broad definition) will agree that activism is an integral aspect of any open and democratic society. I solidly hold that such a society must be grounded in robust citizen-led approaches - both development and governance-wise.
How is this possible?
The possibility of having an open society is highly likely to occur when communication platforms are open to everybody - the People and the government. For no clear steps can be made - say at family level or even nationally - when silence rules. Only through discourse - yes inclusive discourse, can development and governance go together and eventually benefit all.
However, I am opposed to the belief that raw power - that is, over-reliance on brute force, tyrannies of all proportions, muting of brains, clouding of reason, ad infinitum - is the way to go to put positives on the table and to win opponents to either side.
For history is clear on the outcomes of taking this path. No meaningful impact can be derived from muting brains. To cling to this amounts to a zero-sum game.
Only reason prevails at all times and for the benefit of all people.
This brings us to Kenya’s excruciating condition. Is Kenya's level of activism at par with the long term needs of the nation and the general aspirations of Wananchi? Can we point out some positive outcomes of Kenya's activism?
I know activism in Kenya has for long been understood to be a preserve of 'chaps outside government'. A mere mention of the word activist conjures an image of a persona that is inherently anti-state, anti-government and pro-leftist thinking.
But is this wholly true? To some extent yes!
Kenya's March to Democracy is a testimony to this. Many will recall that those who spearheaded this move were mainly activists, and outside the government of the day. On the opposite side was a government that spared no effort to maintain and protect what it believed to be right and good for the nation.
It carries weight, therefore, to simply brand activism as an act against government’s excesses with an objective to foster a Kenya that is loved by all.
History aside. It is worth noting that activism scales have shifted. The present dynamics demonstrate a rather scary image for activism in general. Several reasons come to mind.
One. Activism of yore still controls the present paradigm despite changing dynamics and social needs. Many are still stack in the activistic (in its strict meaning) underpinnings of yester-years of endless deployment of raw power as opposed to exploring other ways of hammering issues.
As expected, this has led to belief in violence as the 'only and true' answer to all our differences.
Two. Government's response (or lack of it) leaves more questions than answers. There is a growing tendency along government corridors to resort to confronting activism by activism, other than addressing the pertinent issues at the center of the exchanges.
Take a walk to social media platforms and you will witness the cut-throat competition pitting pro-government activists against the other side. (I choose not to call them anti-government activists for I know nothing that qualifies one to be anti-government).
Personally, I find this 'competition' good - but only if - reason and objectivity take center-stage. Exchanges such as these are what characterize the very essence of any democratic construct. It is healthy to the people, and to the nation.
But (I repeat) one sided-ism has no place in any pro-country activism.
The onus to up the game rests with government activism. Clever people affirm that governments are like the morning stars that give direction and guidance to all regardless of how they spent their nights.
Likewise, I think cornering 'outside-the-government-activism' is valueless to the nation. It goes along to solidify the belief that for governments to work, they must be policed. And this policing must originate from the citizenry.
Ultra activistic tendencies devoid of reason - and especially oiled by government - must be avoided by all. We cannot build this nation by resorting to shooting one another from the extremes of our muted brains.
We must look for a midpoint. Let reason, and not raw power prevail.
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