Democracy, has since developed into a paradoxical term, “For the People. By the People.” works for and against democracies simultaneously, eventually turning them into autocracies.
Whoever may be for the People is in most cases not by the People. Also true, whoever is by the people is in most cases not for the people. Earlier today, the V-Dem Institute, a leading Swedish multidimensional measure of democracy, noted that, 42 countries around the globe are autocratizing. That is, are backsliding from democracy. Nonetheless, it also found that 72% of the world’s governments are autocratic while only 13% are liberal democrats.
However, an article by Aaron Schneider, a Professor at The University of Denver, further expounds on why democracy is globally under threat. why-do-us-sanctions-fail. In the article, there is enough evidence to support the fact that, Autocratization can be fixed. This can be achieved through going back to the biology of democracy. Aaron argues that, every democratic state, achieved their their democracy through either one of the following two ways. Either through anti-colonial influence histories or through colonial influence.
Kenya, like many other African countries, traces its origin of its independence through the radicalization of groups of workers, peasants, women and indigenous and minoritized people against colonial rule. Undeniably, the powers vested upon the first Kenyan Government came with promises to reposition wealth to and uplift the common mwananchi. These powers were tied to labor and other lower-class social movements, that opposed patterns of racial, ethical, gender and other forms of exclusion. On the other hand, a country like South Africa, achieved its independence with the agreement to support international capital and local allies. Their real powers were tied to business associations and foreign elites who prioritized dominant-group identities over minoritized populations.
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Evidently, most Western Countries seem to be under the informed idea that, true democracy, lies not in opposing Western influence but in embracing Western dominance. Marking Kenya’s version of democracy and others similar to it, as unfit. However, pure democracy is real democracy despite its nature and history. Kenya, and other African countries, need to understand that, deviating from a country’s original idea of democracy is similar to manipulating its democratic DNA. Kenya, is a nation that characterizes its democratic DNA majorly to the lower-class groups. After all, it is through the efforts and radicalization of the minoritized that Kenya gained independence.
Kenya’s democracy is under jeopardy both locally and internationally. The reigning government seems to disregard the nature and history of its own democracy. A country that gained democratic powers under the oath of redistributing wealth back to and uplifting the common mwananchi is going against its sworn oath. Nonetheless, it is important to remember that, these powers were also tied to opposing patterns of racial, ethical, gender and other forms of exclusion. The ‘Hustler Nation’ is yet to see the lives of mama mbogas and bodaboda people being uplifted. Furthermore, there is also the question of ethics.
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Nature is undoubtedly a very powerful force. One can fight against it in an attempt to manipulate it but one cannot change it. By allowing other forms of democracy to manipulate the true nature of our own, President William Ruto might actually be turning Kenya into an undemocratic country. Homosexuality is not part of Kenya’s ethics. Neither is heavily imposing taxes, in the name of uplifting the common mwananchi. In truth, upholding our ethics and repositioning wealth back to the hustler is the most natural and effective way of restoring Kenya’s democracy. For the People. By the People.
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