Kenyans are not negative, its anger against rogue elite

This week, President William Ruto complained that Kenyans are too steeped in negativity and that they fear celebrating good things about their country.

This must have been in response to the ever-rising levels of disappointment evident in Kenyans’ views of the Kenya Kwanza government in general, and specific individual public officials in particular.

The situation is so bad, especially on social media, that several leading public figures now routinely call for “regulations” of social media to instill respect in public officials.

Out of context, it would seem that we are indeed an uber negative society that has no regard for national symbols of unity or any sense of social decorum.

However, the President should never operate out of context. Of all people, he should know why we have gotten to this point.

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Might it have to do with the daily reminders that as Kenyans struggle to make ends meet, those charged with shepherding the nation are busy pilfering public resources and arrogantly flaunting their loot?

Could it be in the fact that amid the grand theft, incompetence and deterioration in the quality of public services the government continues to reach deeper into Kenyans’ pockets to pay for the carefree lifestyles and wealth accumulation among its officials?

To the President’s credit, he seems to have noticed that things are getting personal. For example, it is hard to miss the change in tone when Kenyans react to tragedies befalling politicians. Here, it is worth making two observations.

First, the many glaring failures at collective action are shredding our social fabric. It is never a good thing to react with jubilation when tragedy visits a fellow human being. That we have gotten here is a call for self-reflection and investments in social healing. We are not OK.

Second, it is important to honestly diagnose the root cause of the problem. The problem is not social media – which merely amplifies what Kenyans are feeling in their daily lives. It is also not some other exogenous shift in our sense of moral mooring. Instead, it is a direct response to our ruling elites’ complete abdication of their duties.

How does society respond to men and women who have convinced themselves that it is OK to steal funds meant for children’s medicines and education in order to invest in property in Dubai? What is society to do with those who casually order police to murder unarmed people in broad daylight, people who do not seem to value Kenyan lives in the least?

Kenyans are furious with a ruling elite that has gone rogue. They are demanding better services and respect from the individuals they put in power. Period!

-The writer is a professor at Georgetown University