It's time we got new political clusters that are not so ethnic

For many people January is the month for reflection. We all tend to think a lot when we are broke. In places like Kampala and Kigali the sun seems to be adding insult to injury. Even the nights are so uncomfortably hot. On the political scene the temperatures are not any lower in the region especially if you focus on Uganda and Kenya. Uganda has a general election set for next month while Kenya’s is set for August 2017 but that feels like next month according to the Kenyan political culture. I have been keenly following events around the election campaigns in Uganda and the tempo has clearly risen over the days. This time social media has also been put to use a clear sign that elites cannot be ignored just because we assume they do not vote. The traditional media has tried to cover all the candidates although state media lags behind when it comes to balancing the coverage. What I find a little worrying is the fact that real election issues are being relegated as talk is now mainly about violence and missing people. I am more interested in hearing about how health and education will be improved but for that to happen the process has to be peaceful so that the players and their supporters are not worried about their safety. In Kenya, the different political players have hit the ground running in preparation for the 2017 election. The ruling Jubilee coalition has embarked on a charm offensive to win the coastal voters as well the Luhya community. The opposition is also going hard on the corruption talk while also strategising on which tribal blocks to woo. This troubles me in a way. Following the politics in Kenya and Uganda I have come to the conclusion that we need to build new political clusters. We need to move away from looking at ethnic groups and regions as the key political factors and maybe start looking at career groups for instance. Many times we see and hear teachers or medical workers complaining about their working conditions and welfare especially after an election. This is mainly because a lot of empty promises will have been made during the election. Some of these promises are used to fill up party manifestos that are barely ever read after the day they are launched. The reason why politicians get away with this all the time is because they know for a fact that teachers or medics are not a political cluster to worry about. They are instead worried about ethnic groups and regions. Ethnicity is so close to the heart and that is why some elections turn violent because there is this mentality of us against them. The ethnicities assumed to be close to government will celebrate one of their own while others feel left out. I may be dreaming but I look forward to a day when that kind of polarising politics is replaced with one that addresses issues facing development related clusters. I would love to see teachers or doctors with their families and friends voting in or out a government based on how it treated them or plans to treat them. After all if teachers or doctors were assured of improved welfare then it would improve the lives of many and not just from one ethnic group. The youth vote has become one of the most sought after considering the demographics in many East African countries that show the youth as a majority. The questions therefore should be what tangible solutions do the political players have for the youth besides using them as rented crowds at rallies? I don’t see how our societies will develop when we only rally around ethnic interests at election time. After all, ethnicity is something static and one we do not choose. However if I choose to be a business person, I should also be in position to task the politicians on how their policies affect my business and life. I always love the unity that comes around when Kenyan athletes or rugby players succeed. Every Kenyan is proud during such moments. They see sportsmen and women flying their flag high. I would love to see politicians on a charm offensive for sports lovers not just Luhyas or Kalenjins. Again, I maybe just dreaming but some things really ought to change if we are to move forward as nations hungry for development.

Opinions

It's time we got new political clusters that are not so ethnic