INTERNATIONALto cushion the vulnerable against harsh
economic times, increasing devolved
resources for county governments and
empowering women, and so forth.
President Ruto, on the hand,
presented his manifesto under the populist
rhetoric of “Bottom-up economics”.
This alluded to the fact that the majority
of Kenyans are at the bottom of the
pyramid and need to be uplifted to a life
of decency and dignity. He blamed the
current “trickle-down economics”, driven
by dynasties whom he described as elite
families that have been in politics since
independence, for Kenya’s economic woes.
Prior to the elections, Ruto’s critics
had pointed out that he supported former
President Daniel Moi’s dictatorship that
greatly curtailed democratic spaces. This
has been the fear of progressives and
activists: that there could be a shrinking
of democratic spaces in the future. In a
bid to get full political control, President
Ruto has moved with speed by swaying
members of the opposition to his team. His
coalition now dominates both the National
Assembly and the Senate.
A petition for the working
class
Now, with elections over, what does
President Ruto’s regime mean to the
working class, the urban poor and
peasants? Will the regime implement its
manifesto or was it populist rhetoric?
While these are critical questions, a better
question still will be what a capitalist
regime with heavy ties with imperialism
has to offer and what can be expected of
parliamentary elections. A look at the Njaa
(Hunger) Revolution petition sent to the
parliament before the elections shows
that this is what the working class should
rally around to hold this government
accountable and demand better living
conditions. In its petition, it captures
four important areas. It demands that the
National Assembly:- Initiates processes that will ensure the
provision of food for all those facing
hunger and starvation in Kenya; - Provides and makes public a
comprehensive status report on the
supply and distribution of clean water
by all water and sewerage companies
throughout the country. This will
conform with the right of all Kenyans
to clean water and sanitation, as per
Article 43 1(d) of the Constitution of
Kenya; - Initiates legislation that ensures the
provision of free sanitary pads to all
women and girls; and - Provides a comprehensive status
report on the usage of public land.
The commodification of education,
unemployment, and the structural
adjustment policies of the Bretton Woods
institutions (the IMF and the World Bank)
have increased inequality by incorporating
small economies like Kenya into the global
capitalism system. It becomes clear then
that decent life and dignity cannot beachieved in any way within the capitalist
system. The lack of a strong alternative
Left in Kenyan politics makes it difficult for
the masses to air their grievances and work
towards achieving solutions.
It sends a bold statement to the
regime when 8 million registered voters
decide not to vote!
Bourgeois elections, in general
terms, do not represent the interests
of the masses. With this realisation, it
is imperative to expound on the issues
captured in the Njaa Revolution Petition.
They must be centred around class struggle
and spearheaded by social movements
and progressive political parties. Only by
embracing the theory of class struggle can
we dismantle populist politics that are not
people-centered, as well as combat liberal
politics that look radical on the outside
but are reactionary on the inside. They are
perfectly designed to treat symptoms that
affect society; they never produce concrete,
lasting solutions that lead to the total
emancipation of humankind from the yoke
of capitalism and imperialism.
We might not be able to totally foresee
what the future holds for Kenyans under
the current regime. Nevertheless, history
has taught us that neo-colonial capitalist
regimes have little to offer the masses;
they never fulfill their agenda. Poverty and
inequality, which are the major challenges,
cannot be eradicated under such a system.Nicholas Mwangi is a member of
the Ukombozi Library and the Social
Justice Movement in Kenya.Prior to the August general elections, hundreds of Kenyans
from informal settlements were organised by grassroots
activists, under the slogan Njaa (Hunger) Revolution.