The Problems Awaiting the Fifth President of Kenya

Kenya will have a new President after August 2022 if the elections do not end up in a rerun. We have to first give it to the politicians for trying to stick to agendas even if most of them are giving abstract statements. However, this does not mean that a few of the blind me from calling out those who continue to ride on ethnic bigotry for the relevance and sympathy of the voter. Anyway, that is a discussion for another day; let’s stick to the day’s subject.

While we are happy with the step towards achieving a more tolerant and accommodative society, several problems threaten to break the country.

The sense of optimism that supporters of the two frontrunners for the Presidential seat might soon fizzle out after any of them occupies the seat. The rationale behind this thinking is that there are several problems, mostly of political and economic nature, that we are currently facing as a country. Without the right leadership, the situation might be worse.

Economic Recession

Recently a financial report released by the Government of Kenya alleged that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had grown by over 7 percent. I am not an Economist or a Financial analyst, so I will not be quick to judge such assertions by the government. However, the reality on the ground is different from the narrative being sold by the government. The current economic dispensation is characterized by a high level of inflation and high fuel, electricity, and basic commodities prices. High Unemployment rates are also another problem that characterizes the current economic dispensation of Kenya.

Not even a miracle can rectify this economic mess within the remaining days of the elections. This country’s economic recovery is strictly contingent on the next regime, which makes it hard for the next President.

If not careful, the one elected might witness a collapse of the economy, not because it is their doing but as the legacy of the retired government. This is likely to make them unpopular within their first term in office as the citizens will accuse them of allowing the economy to collapse.

Skyrocketing Corruption

There is also the issue of rampant corruption that has led to the current economic crisis. While it is easy to blame the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine on the economic recession today, Kenya’s economy has been dwindling even before the said outbreak and war. There have been massive graft cases in various government corporations, ministries, and parastatals like the National Youth Service (NYS), Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA), and the Ministry of Health. The calls for arresting the culprits have fallen on deaf ears while we, the citizens, have rewarded some of the culprits with elective posts.

Insecurity in certain Parts of the Country

Security is also an issue that the next regime must grapple with and employ viable solutions. The reactionary tactics employed by the current regime against various security threats have proven futile. For instance, the bandits in West Pokot and some parts of Elgeyo Marakwet continue with their operations in the region despite an assurance from the government through the ministry of interior to restore order. The incoming government will have to prioritize security if they wish to govern well and deliver their campaign promises.

Youth Unemployment

Another problem is the high rate of unemployment, especially among the youth. Youth unemployment in the country is assuming crisis proportion, particularly in the wake of the current economic recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Unemployment and limited access to opportunities have been identified as major daily barriers that Kenyan youths have to grapple with. According to that census data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in February 2020, 38.9 percent of the 13 777 600 young Kenyans are unemployed, hence the widened gulf between the rich and poor. Unless the next administration employs viable means of creating unemployment, youth unemployment could soon have catastrophic results.

Unification of the Country

Lastly, the problem of unifying the whole country is also a major challenge awaiting the fifth president. We may act as if we co-exist peacefully with our neighbors, but that is far from the truth as our politics exposes the soft underbelly of our relationship with each other. The constitutional change initiative: Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which was highly politicized, failed to meet its objective partly because it was flagged down by the Judiciary and partly because of petty politics. Therefore, it will take the wisdom of our forefathers to unite the country to work beyond politics and ethnicity.