Politics of Deception and Manipulation Outdated

Politics of Deception and Manipulation Outdated

I was intrigued when one of the leading lights of our political landscape told a gathering something to the effect that they will do anything in their power to get the wrestle Nairobi from the opposition. This got me thinking about the Machiavellian mantra about crushing your enemy completely and wondered whether our leader’s political strategy is still enmeshed in the antediluvian thinking of the original thinking of Machiavelli. Maybe it is still anchored there and maybe because the Kenyan political landscape is full of mindless zombies that swallow everything this kind of leadership offers. The sad thing is: many of our leaders have refused to grow with time and are still enamoured in Neanderthal philosophies of manipulation and occasional cruelty. They believe that it is much safer to be feared than loved.

One of the things that come to mind in this political manipulation is the lie that merging parties under one umbrella political behemoth will unite the country. While the intention is manifestly genuine and benign, the latent (read the real) intention is a very toxic concoction to keep the state and its resources away from “intruders”, whoever they are. The other interesting occurrence is the sudden pre-occupation with the unity of certain communities, the most notable being Luyia and Gusii. And these campaigns are ostensible being pushed by “home boys and girls”. How come no one is interested in Maasai or Borana unity (among many others) for that matter? Again, the manifest motivation is genuine but what is the intended outcome of this call for unity, and is it really homegrown? Even supposing it is home grown, is it genuine? And who are the Luyia and Gusii, for that matter, uniting against? The answer to that is as complex as the unstated history of this country. So again here, the devil is in the details.  

As Kenyans, we must also be wary of the sudden generosity from government functionaries. The many projects being unveiled or commissioned in areas and regions hitherto considered “hostile” to their overtures. Are these projects budgeted for and is their implementation sustainable and long-term or are they short-term courtship dances meant to hoodwink voters. Again, our politics of manipulation comes into play. The government is using selective honesty and generosity to disarm the populace in these areas. The sad fact is local leaders from these areas are also playing along in total disregard to the needs and aspirations of the populace.

The timing of the proposal or passage of certain laws that touch on political and electoral issues also come out as part of the scheme to keep the state out of the hands of the “outsiders”. One wonders why our legal and legislative efforts are aimed at making legislation that is tailor-made and almost time-bound. If someone else other than Jubilee were to form the next government will we still have those tireless efforts to allow the President to handpick governors and the Chief Justice. Have our legal and legislative mandarins thought about the implications of this law beyond 2032 (when the life of jubilee is expected to change guard of effectively end)? We should step away from this leadership from the past and embrace futuristic thinking. Leadership is not about seeking attention at all costs. Neither is it about crushing your opponents totally as Machiavelli advised.

The responsibility to make Kenya tick starts and ends with each one of us. We must realise that leadership based on manipulation is not sustainable nor is it good for the future of the country.  The ideas advanced by Machiavelli and Greene have outlived their usefulness. Deception, manipulation, force, and coercion have been replaced by responsible use of power. Political leaders should be people who are attuned to, and engaged with the needs and interests of others. To run smoothly, society needs leaders who are willing and able to use power this way. Thus, empathy and social intelligence are vastly more important to acquiring and exercising power than are force, deception or terror. And if you look keenly, you will find that our political landscape does not lack individuals who, even having been children of privilege themselves, they are able to empathise and identify with the needs and aspirations of the lowly. These are the midwives of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the champions of devolution that is changing lives from Vanga in Kwale to Lokichogio in Turkana. These are the individuals we should strive to put in leadership to propel Kenya to the next level.