JAMILA'S MEMO: Elections; The work in-between

To all our campaigning politicians, I have some news for you. There is actually a job that comes after winning an election. I know, Shocking! Looking at our politics sometimes, you would think winning the election is the job.

Campaign, Win and Celebrate. And then immediately begin preparing to win the next one.

But somewhere between those two elections, there is this little thing called governance. And governance is an actual job, a difficult one, and a day-and-night job.

It means running hospitals. Making sure children can go to school. Ensuring people have water, electricity, roads, security and medicine.

It means solving problems that are not particularly exciting. Problems that don't attract crowds. Problems that don't have “Sindio?” Problems that cannot be solved from the sunroof of an SUV.

And I have been thinking about this because for 43 days, nurses across this country have been on strike. Let that sink in, 43 days.

For more than a month, Kenyans have been walking into public health facilities with one of the most essential parts of our healthcare system missing.

Patients experiencing delays. Families struggling to get treatment. Concerns even being raised about maternal and neonatal deaths.

On Wednesday this week, 43 days later, finally, nurses and the Council of Governors have signed a return-to-work agreement. But now that the crisis is ending, perhaps we should ask: Why did it take 43 days? During that period, politics continued perfectly normally.

Convoys moved. Rallies happened. Political meetings continued. 2027 calculations continued. Who will support whom? Who will be Deputy President?

Who owns which region? Hiyo kazi haikusimama. And perhaps this is where our politics has become a little strange.

We behave as though politics is the job and governance is the interruption. When actually, it should be the other way around. Campaigning is how you apply for the job. Election Day is when Kenyans decide whether to give you the job. And then, you have to do the job.

For five years. Now, I understand government cannot simply agree to every demand made by every worker. There are budgets, wage bills and competing priorities. Fine. That is why we elect people to govern.

To negotiate, prioritise, find compromises, make difficult decisions and solve problems. Because for somebody sitting in an office, 43 days may be a labour dispute.

For the woman arriving at hospital in labour, it is not. For the parent carrying a sick child, it is not. For somebody needing lifesaving treatment, 43 days is a very long time. So yes, campaign. Build your coalitions. Ask Kenyans for another term.

Tell us what you will do in 2027.But every once in a while, close the sunroof. Come down from the SUV. Go back to the office. There is a government to run. Because campaigning may help you get the job, but governing is how you prove you deserved it.