The Saddest Film Clip In Kenyan History: Kenyan Politics Since Independence

Has The Time For a True New Beginning Come?

There is a film clip that is often played on Kenyan TV channels during public holidays that shows the raising of the Kenyan flag for the first time shortly after the lowering of the Union Jack which officially ended colonial rule in Kenya.

Understandably the crowd went wild with euphoria during the historical function that was held at Uhuru Gardens adjacent to the Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi. If only they had been able to see the future, they would have immediately realized that their euphoria was misplaced.

In fact there are those who would argue that life was better under colonial rule. What actually happened at Uhuru Gardens on that memorable evening of December 12th 1963 was that Kenyans just changed masters from the white settler to a much more ruthless African ruling class.

With the general elections looming it is clear that for the first time candidates will be facing some very angry and skeptical voters who already feel that they were cheated in 2002. This sets the stage for voters to vote in a totally new generation of politicians. Already there is talk doing the rounds in Nairobi that this time voters should make a point of not voting for anybody who has been in parliament before. Bold move indeed, and a golden opportunity for the generation born around the time of independence and immediately after to move their influence from just the corporate world into mainstream politics. More on this in future posts.