Leaders must adjust their sails to survive current civic winds

Protester reacts near burning cars as clashes erupt over the killing of blogger Albert Ojwang. June 12, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Kenya’s current affairs tease us with the thought that the angel of doom is crushing us. We are teased with the thought that we are prisoners in the devil’s grip.  

In a sense, we could indeed be at the end of times. Everything that could go wrong is going wrong. Murder, mayhem, state-owned goons, deodorised executive theft, and a myriad of high-level offensives against the Constitution and the people. They all overwhelm us with massive incredulity. But could this tiresome season also be the spring of hope?   

Charles Dickens’ famous contrast of London and Paris, in the spring of the French Revolution, quickens our consciousness. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us.” 

Kenyans continue to take a beating from the state, sometimes in environments that generate sentiments of gloom and doom. When the state sponsors goons to disrupt peaceful demonstrations against the murder of a young man in police cells, we are overwhelmed with sadness and despair. It is not just the age of foolishness; it is the high noon of reckless stupidity. For, why would a government that considers itself legitimate surrender its public order responsibilities to irresponsible hoodlums? We are teased towards despair when the difference between the police officer and the crass street gangster is hard to tell.  

Our neighbours want to laugh at us, in their relatively peaceful innocence. Leaders of nations waking up from failed ideologies and misrules of yesteryear wear us fine airs. They call us names. Have such countries overtaken Kenya, now that we are in the grip of high-octane civic activities? Far from it. Our present civic activities represent the highest levels of hope for a brilliant future anywhere in Africa. We are light years ahead of the rest of Africa. 

Imperious President

Let us break it down. In 2010, Kenyans gave themselves what was globally hailed as the most progressive Constitution in the world. Since then, the pillars of the Constitution have withstood turbulent tests. The age of whimsical rule by strongmen is ending. President William Ruto is likely to be the last random strongman in Kenya. Our imperious President and his handlers may want to change tack because of this Constitution.  

Why, constitutional tests that began soon after promulgation are nearing the grand finale. Accordingly, whimsical civics in Kenya assume eschatological significance of biblical magnitude, where it has been written, “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”   

Like the conquest in the Good Book, our Constitution has wrestled down the enemies of the sovereignty of the people. Only one remains. The last enemy to be put down shall be Executive impunity at the very highest. This Constitution has overturned the re-election of a sitting president. It has impeached three governors and one deputy president. It has removed two deputy chief justices. It has dissolved the entire Cabinet.  

It has jailed a former governor for sins committed when he was in office. More could soon follow. And it has done much more. Very few tests remain. Among them is the impeachment of the President. The other one is jailing a member of the National Executive. The day these two will happen does not appear to be too far off.   

The civic winds blowing across the country are neither ill nor stoppable. Those who hold high office will, however, do well to adjust their sails, to align them with these winds of hope. On Wednesday, Kenyans will step out once again to exercise their sovereignty. They will come out to recall the scars of June last year.  

The Kenyan state can demonstrate growth and movement by allowing them to celebrate in peace. Conversely, it can continue fighting against the strong winds of change. It is a fight they cannot win, in the end. The people, the Constitution, and the name of God are tied up in a triple-knot in Article One of the Constitution. Our winter of discontent portends our summer of salvation.

Dr Muluka is a strategic communications adviser.  www.barrackmuluka.co.ke