Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Calling CSO's foreign parapets misguided

Since the IEBC announced Uhuru as the fourth president of Kenya, anyone who opens his or her mouth to challenge the outcome has been branded a western parapet. People from the Civil Society have particularly received their fair share of name calling with some of the newspaper articles going as far as to claim that the CSO's are getting paid by the west to destabilize Kenya's political landscape. Now, anyone who knows how NGO's operate or how they secure their funding for that matter will tell you that both are made much easier when they work under "difficult" environments. Difficult according to the donors/partners of course. Lets say the court was to throw out the petition by CORD, that move would make Uhuru the fourth president of Kenya. What would that mean for Kenya's relationship with the west? Now if the west consider Kenya an "unjust" country because they elected an individual who is facing charges for crimes against humanity the impression I get is that the so called democratic western countries would do anything in their power to ensure that Kenya is restored back to being an icon of the region by upholding justice and democracy. If this is the case, then it is a no brainer that Kenyan Civil Society would have more access to funding and thus their lifeline would be prolonged because Uhuru's presidency in the eyes of the west would validate the existence of NGO's(parallel governments). Baring this in mind, why would the Civil Society cut the hand that feeds them (Uhuru's presidency). Wouldn’t it be more convenient for them to shut up and let Uhuruto be sworn in then immediately after begin the efforts of fundraising to resort democracy? My point? It is no secret that citizens in this country rarely get the opportunity to contribute to the development agenda. Now if the only way you can get your voice heard is through civil society, then why not? Of course I have my own reservations on the fact that NGO's get funding from foreign governments to carry out an agenda (progressive or else). in countries like Brazil for instance, NGO's get funded by government without fear of getting gagged. In the so called western countries we all love to blame for our problems, Civil Society is funded by wananchi for as little as 100bob. Ask yourself what you have done to contribute to the democratic space of this country. If Civil Society was looking to increase their funding budgets, the right move would be to back Uhuru(silently of course). So please, before vindicating the Civil Society organizations that have gone to court to challenge the election outcome, please remember that they are also Kenyans who are trying desperately to ensure the democratic spaces we have all waited so long to enjoy are not closed up in the pretence of upholding peace.