Democracy is not an event practiced periodically but is continous process

Some Africans still think democracy is an event practiced periodically, like in Kenya every five years. Some of us know that democracy is not about elections in entirety, but rather that the majority decides who gets to take leadership.....but it never stops there. The opposition exists to keep the government of the day in check and offer alternative leadership should the government of the day fail to deliver on their pre-election agenda and routine government responsibilities, engage in excesses or fail to be accountable to the electorate. No one in any democracy should have leeway to run a country in a haphazard manner just coz they won previous elections. Democracy is a process of continuous engagement by various stakeholders as recognized and enshrined in our current constitution. Let the government of the day continue in executing its mandate in line with the constitution and all laws. The right of all Kenyans including those in the opposition to engage the government whenever the country seems headed in the wrong direction is protected by our constitution and must be respected by all those who are cozy enjoying the trappings of power . Hence all this hue and cry is misplaced. A nation cannot wait for five years to hold to account those entrusted with running its affairs in the wake of such huge challenges. Security wise terror attacks have become a normal occurrence, executions by "unknown gunmen" and murder of innocent hard working citizens by criminals. We cannot keep quiet when billions of our tax money is paid to faceless companies while no one is being charged for getting us into the mess. It’s all too clear that public officers conspire with shadowy business characters to defraud the Kenyan public yet they are not being brought to book since they are the big shots that manipulate institutions, systems and the electorate to maintain and entrench the status quo. Indeed we in the formal sector are facing higher levies, NSSF, NHIF etc, without any confidence that the billions being pooled will be invested and managed in the interest of all contributors and the country at large. Perfect examples of bleeding a leech to fatten a cow include the Tassia project to mention just one. However, the greatest challenge this country faces that threatens to tear it apart if not checked soon is without doubt tribalism in government, marginalization, discrimination and exclusion of some communities be it real or imaginary. The responsibility lies with the government of the day to ensure that once elections are concluded, service delivery, infrastructure development and opportunities in government are fairly accorded to all citizens irrespective of voting preferences. The logic is that none is excluded from paying taxes thereby contributing to the government kitty and as such equal treatment is an inalienable right and never a privilege. For as long as all Kenyans contribute towards running of government, myself included, I shall demand that the Jubilee administration in executing their mandate not only remain fair, equitable and balanced in regards to all demographic groups but also be seen to be. A quick period of interaction on social media or in normal conversations will let any newcomer know that the larger percentage of Kenyan communities feel marginalized and discriminated upon by the Jubilee administration. The opposition which represents the aspirations of many Kenyans, whether majority or not, has called for national dialogue on a number of issues. I personally see no problem with any society engaging in dialogue to discuss issues affecting it. The manner in which issues of governance are tackled determines the success or collapse of a nation. Some people have been quipping that all dialogue should be channeled within existing state institutions or that the opposition has a hidden agenda in their call. To such I inform them that the opposition is an empty shell without the millions of supporters who expect them to champion their agenda, it is the voice of these millions that really matter in the proposed national dialogue. As to the matter of institutions, I can refer you to the many independent organizations’ reports about Kenyan institutions in addition to general public confidence levels in the same. We have a very long way to go in terms of attaining the level of integrity state institutions need to ensure fair democratic contest. Most of these institutions are still hostage to cartels, technocrats, power barons and a wealthy mafia that took over this country after hopes and aspirations of the freedom movement had been crushed. While some effort has gone towards reforming these institutions, it is currently foolhardy to expect individuals in these institutions to go against their masters since many of them are beneficiaries of patronage, receive undue inducements and are ever facing threats various nature in case of non-conformity. These forces have always manipulated the naivety and ignorance of the electorate, democratic institutions and the security forces to ensure that the status quo remains. While it is true that the Jubilee administration represents the status quo, elements exist in the opposition. Enter one Raila Amollo Odinga…… No single person has challenged the status quo to the level of this man, such that their election strategy is primarily focused on ensuring he does not get to state house whatever the cost and means. In fact recent revelations confirm that Uhuru may well not have been the president but for the bitter backlash that made the status quo jittery about outcomes in Central Kenya. The masses that rejoice thinking that injustice visited upon other Kenyans including skewed government appointments are in their favor are but fools in this whole game as majority eke out a living like the rest of the seemingly underprivilegedcitizens. Raila Odinga is a movement that long went beyond the individual and his community of origin despite concerted efforts to contain him by status quo. It takes a well crafted organization with well paid individuals in various strategic places to keep Raila in check. Truth is ‘Raila the person’ can and will die out like all humans do as well as members who subscribe to his ideology, but ‘Raila the movement’ will live on and gain strength until the status quo is toppled. It will do anything and everything to prevent this day and that’s why any talk of sober national dialogue will be dismissed, trivialized, ridiculed and scandalized. As usual, the emotions of the supporting cast of the ‘royal tribes’ will be whipped up to oppose what could otherwise be the best peaceful avenue for ensuring the country advances in the right direction our challenges notwithstanding. The status quo in Kenya like in many other countries will eventually fall, slowly peacefully and progressively or fast violently and rapidly like in the Arab spring. The cost of a violent fall like demonstrated in Arab countries is too heavy for this country. The chest thumping of very short sighted oxy-morons drunk with benefits of sycophancy and state patronage is understandable,but for an ordinary citizen toiling daily to better his/her life and secure a future for his/her offspring to oppose national dialogue, that is the height of ignorance and foolishness!