Is Kenya a democracy?

Sydney Harris described democracy as the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be. Truth be told, democracy means different things to different people. But today I ask if Kenya is a democracy.

I recently have heard a lot of views expressed on Kenya’s current situation. Many have said that Kenya was the country to watch out for three years ago. With stable GDP growth, lower crime rate, increase in literacy levels, Botswana and Ghana had nothing on us. We were going places they said. Then came the dreaded 2007 election and all hell broke loose. The worst fear of the developed nations had come true that Kenya would be added to the list of basket cases. Meetings to discuss how to prevent Kenya from becoming another failed state in Africa were conducted in the USA, UK, and many other places.

We have had a fair share of blunders as a country but I refuse to think that this makes us an unstable nation. I see the Kenyan case as one of institutionalizing democracy which is seriously enriched by looking at it as a process of group learning and understanding. Today, Kenyans as a collective have emerged from the crisis wiser. How can we prove this you might ask?

a) Despite all the turmoil witnessed in 2007, Kenyans managed to send over 50% of MP's home. This to me is a positive sign towards changing the leadership perception.
b) The general engagement with the Agenda 4: Although our leaders have been tip toeing around this issue, Kenyans have remained vigilant all through the process even forcing the leaders to take certain stands that might be unfavorable to them. The process might not be 100% people driven but if what I saw in Isiolo during the CoE consultation process is anything to go by, we are headed in the right direction.
c) The launch of the draft constitution. This is a major milestone for our country. Granted, the draft is not perfect. Granted, it might be another 15 years before we start implementing it. Taking all this into consideration, I still believe that we have made great strides; after all, Rome was not built in a day.

These are just but a few indicators.

The cost of democracy is always high, but Kenyans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission. Today, I can proudly say that Kenya is a democracy. Not because per capital GDP has reached the recommended level, or that our government is functioning as it ought to, but because, Kenyans have learnt the power of asking questions and to me that is the greatest path to democracy.