SAM'S SENSE: Hey, hey listen

That clip of him calling out the audience to order went viral, attracting immense commentary locally and globally. And some have taken offence to even ask, would Kenya’s President William Ruto order an audience quiet in a European capital. 

Well, opinion is divided but I guess this offers an opportunity for the Kenyan society. You see, we continue to reap from the fruits of the 2010 constitution that allows us freedom of opinion, freedom of expression and the right to be heard before being condemned.

Ask any young person what they think of their leaders and they will have varied opinions depending on their individual worldviews. But something is common.

We have become an intolerant society. We prefer to speak than listen. And it cuts across: from homes to places of worship, to the markets, town centres, street parliaments, to the parliament itself and more importantly at the national political scene.

We have become a society of exchanges. We listen keenly, not to understand, but so that we can respond in full detail. And as we respond we make sure we make it worse than the initial offence.

You have seen the political class on top of vehicles, with a microphone, shouting to the audience, only that the content has nothing to do with those in attendance. It is usually about another major politician who is far away, who recently said something that the current speaker found offensive.

And so, Kenyans have learnt how to deal with such situations. They deploy what we’ll call sense filtration mechanism. If the speaker is not making sense, they ignore, they chat with each other, they adjust their caps, they take pictures and wait for the clarion call.

Presently, it’s either Wantam or Tutam! And they wait their turn to receive their listening allowance for the day, because in Kenya, no audience is free.

And after the rally, they go home to watch news. Not to hear what the leaders said, but to see if they or their friends were captured in the video footage, which they will gladly record and share in their WhatsApp groups.

From then on, it is no longer about the message but the value such appearances bring to social status, even if imagined.

And then one Monday, a foreign president arrives in a hall in Nairobi. He and his delegation are keen to hear what presenters have to say. But the audience? They are used to zoning out. Zoning out to conversations that are more personal, more relatable.

When the visitor calls them out, they keep quiet, but they murmur inside to later take the war to the world that social media is.  And they rant, call people names, as they defend their opinions, regardless of sense. 

What have we become as a society? The cancelling culture that we have cultivated. That when you speak that which is contrary to held beliefs, you deserve no ear. Because you are biased, ignorant, you do not understand people and are probably speaking out of privilege.

Gradually, we become a society that doesn’t value information for its worth. A society that does not appreciate new knowledge; a society that is flying blind despite numerous opportunities to tap into that which may turn out transforming our lives and society. 

Because thinking happens in silence. Innovation, happens in silence. Creativity is quiet. And you learn more from listening than talking.

For a country that faces a general election in just over a year, there will be many people with things to say, than time to listen.

Some will be logical with solid problem diagnosis and proposed solutions. But they may not get audience as multiple sources of distraction compete for audience’s attention. 

But then, more established politicians with access to resources might buy their way to the audiences. Still, listening will play a major role if a country is to save itself from poor decisions.

Because it is in listening that we learn. And that is for every human being including those that can buy out ear-spaces.

That’s my sense tonight.