"Politics should be left to politicians..."; was re: FROM LAMENTATIONS 4:2 TO ACTS 101

Hmmm. And cooking should be left to chefs? Singing should be left to musicians? Exercising should be left to athletes?

Just as all of the above are essential (yes, even singing!) to a wholesome and happy life, political activism is essential to the well-being of every resident in every country. Particularly in a democracy (which, Kenya is supposedly moving toward becoming), civic involvement and activism are critical to progress.

Imagine if black South Africans had left politics to the politicians (who were all white and who did not care for their interests at all), or if African Americans had done the same in the 1950s and 1960s and forever and evermore. And what about the Native Americans and Latinos in the United States today? Imagine what would happen if they left politics to the politicians--if they threw away their right to freedom of speech and allowed those who have no interest in their rights, whose interests in many areas contradict their own, to make decisions on matters affecting them?!

WE SHOULD NEVER LEAVE POLITICS TO THE POLITICIANS. Every single person has a right and a duty to be informed of the actions or nonactions that a government takes or fails to take in his or her name, using his or her tax dollars. When we fail to be critical of our government, we coddle corruption, foster apathy, and set ourselves up for totalitarianism. More than ever, at this turning point in the Kenyan political system, we need Kenyans to hold government officials accountable for their actions.

Politics concerns you and me. The rich and the poor. The educated and the uneducated. It affects nearly every facet of our lives. The role that you play in the political process today, the things that you teach your children (whether to adopt and adapt to corruption as a normal part of life or to lead by example), what you say and what you do not say--these are all things that have wide-reaching consequences. As the above examples attest, leaving politics to politicians may also often mean entrusting your fate to those with whom you share little in common--if you are an average Kenyan, this means the rich and, unfortunately, often immoral. How much do you really think that these people care about your son or daughter? How much do you think they care about the development of your particular community? About you, even?

Most of us want a peaceful life--a good job, educated children, a few luxuries. But very few Kenyans enjoy this moderate standard of living. On the other hand, there are also a few who live far in excess of this. In many cases, they have not achieved success through honest channels. Often they have trampled on the backs of the poor, and indebted all Kenyans in the process.

One writer above expressed an interest in gradual change. How gradual is the question many of us are asking. Although patience and reason must be exercised, by many accounts things in Kenya are getting worse not better. I think what you see is a natural and necessary response to the deteriorating state of democracy in Kenya. After placing so much hope in the Kibaki government, many Kenyans are disillusioned and angry. It is only through popular pressure that the tide can be reversed again toward progress.

So. Please press on Kenyans. NEVER believe those who say that you have no right to demand what is lawfully and naturally yours--the freedom to express yourself, to wax eternal on any and every matter that concerns you, in a peaceful manner. Run for office if you have a vision and the ability (financial resources, popular support, and physical fitness, for example) to see it through, support those who share your vision for your country, and be critical of those who do not.

Peace,
Annah Sidigu