JAMILA'S MEMO: Siasa bila break

Fuel prices go up? Politics. Cost of living crisis? Politics. Public anger? Politics. Transport paralysis? Politics. Every single day there is a rally somewhere. Every weekend there are several. Convoys moving. Microphones screaming. Leaders sweating on top of cars promising a better future.

And what perhaps confuses wananchi is this: when exactly do these people govern? Kenya now feels like one long campaign rally occasionally interrupted by economic hardship. And yes, we are constantly told these are development tours or empowerment meetings. But people are beginning to notice something very interesting.

There is always a launch. A road here, a market there…A housing project and sometimes a fresh promise is being launched. But somehow, the completed projects are always harder to find than the many announcements and proclamations

At this point, Kenya appears to have mastered the art of launching beginnings. And even before the current problems are solved, politicians have already moved to the next obsession: 2032.

The next elections are in August 2027. But already, leaders are busy telling us which community should rule after that.

One group saying “it will be our turn.” Another saying “we must not be left behind.”

Others already negotiating succession mathematics seven years in advance.

Meanwhile, wananchi are negotiating with fuel prices every 14th of the month. VAT is waiting every 10th. PAYE is waiting at the end month.

School fees are waiting, Rent is waiting. Employers are struggling with wage bills.

Businesses are suffocating.

But leadership somehow has enough free time to discuss 2032. And honestly, wananchi are now asking: have all the current problems already been solved? Ordinary Kenyans do not have the luxury of living politically seven years ahead.

People are trying to survive this week. This fuel cycle. This school term. And maybe that is the real disconnect in the country today. Wananchi are living on survival timelines while Politicians are on succession timelines.

At some point, leadership must behave more like winners of the last election and Less like contenders of the next election. Winners of an election become managers of the country affairs in between elections.

And winning means you crossed the finish line and you have a term to be manager. Winning also means you stop running and start managing. To simplify this, our politicians just need to master the functions of that simple START-STOP button. 

And that is my memo.