Let’s Challenge the Conventional

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“I am convinced Kenya is full of idiots, starting with Sonko’s interviewer, after the much hyped Sonko interview i had to watch it. I wonder did you guys digest what this guy was talking about, or he just threw around random facts and figures and Alas the Kenyan voter was bought, Sonko the Messiah, Random fact 1. Kenyan Economy has grown from 200bn to 1 trillion, that is just a bloody budget, economies are measured in GDP, remember Goods and services produced in a country over time. a bigger budget doesn't mean a bigger economy, just because you budget to do a 50k shopping in Nakumatt does not mean you have the money, and within the budget you have allocations for development and recurrent expenditures, like akina Sonko’s tax free Salaries, so clearly his understanding on Economics is next to Nil. Another idiot claim, and i quote "my father was wealthy and influential,..... i come from a poor family", contradiction of sorts, don't you think? I can not believe even the anchor failed to pick it up. Then he goes to quote the constitution article on discrimination as a reason why he won't change his dress code, does it mean I can disregard my uniform, wear a pair of jeans to work because the constitution protects me from discrimination, So fired! there are rules of decorum in the legislative house, and the guy being the delinquent he is, misquotes the good constitution to break the house rules. The guy needs to understand investors are attracted to places where people follow the rule of law, and there is stability since they are putting in their hard earned cash to get returns, not places run with populist goons, with little regard for the rule of law. Sorry this guy shouldn't govern my toilet, but guess what Nairobians might just vote for him, and that is just sad, because it reflects who we are, our leaders do reflect who we are, and we are ready to get an idiot in power, clearly many of us are!”

Dear friend,

I saw your post on Facebook as quoted above. And I beg to differ. So yes, there was some inconsistency when Sonko said, “My father was wealthy and influential...I come from a poor family." We can only speculate why he in was inconsistent, perhaps it was a slip of the tongue from the pressure of speaking to a live audience, I do not know. Nonetheless, this is not why I am writing to you.

Truth is, Sonko came armed, ready for ‘war’ when we watched him on the 9 O’clock news yesterday and on today’s Citizen’s Power Breakfast. The fact that he came with documents I say it is a stroke of genius. I do not think that anyone can beat his strategy as it stands now. He has become tactically genius.

First things first, so yes he doesn’t believe in wearing suits when he is not in Parliament and you are comfortable in your uniform. Being a Member of Parliament, the dress code simply is based on a ‘colonial’ reasoning that you have to be in a suit to be taken seriously. I am sure you remember a time when you hated wearing your school uniform, no? We all hated our uniform and looked forward to a time we could express who we are by how we dress. I give kudos to Sonko for being true to himself and for respecting Kenyans by not being a pretentious prick like others. What you see with Sonko is what you get.

You say he is a goon. On what basis do you say so? Is it because of the instances he has been on our screens punching walls? Well, I admit that at the time this was happening I really wasn't paying attention to current affairs and yes I was among the majority that dismissed him as a crook etc. just because my friends believed so. Funny thing, I am one of the Makadara constituents that voted him in. I craved to see new blood in the 10th Parliament. I digress.

In the interview he expressed his reason. Now picture yourself in the shoes of the mwananchi whose kibanda was demolished by City Council; your only source of livelihood to fend for your family. As a kawaida person your cries will hardly make the news but when your MP cries and makes a spectacle of the situation on your behalf he makes the top news piece on Prime Time news and first page on the Kenya Gazette. It may be argued that his methods are unorthodox being in a leadership position. But I do not think so, he is simply ‘grieving’ like the kawaida person. He brought his constituents cries to the Nation’s attention. I say well done to him. He is only one person, what else can he do? He acted within his means.

Sonko as he says he is a man of the people, ‘jamaa wa Eastlando’. His approach is a sociological one. The media basically wants the parties vying for these leadership positions to be idealistic and philosophical...you know all the fancy gibberish that come with attending elite educational institutions. Did you hear him demonstrate how the leadership comes down to the people? He gave tangible examples of how he is empowering his people. Good for him.

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Unlike others with the ideas of how to grow the economy...he proposes that we start with the internal resources so that we pull in the external investors. I am not an economist I understand what I need to and leave the rest to the experts. What I interpret loud and clear from Mike Sonko’s approach is this...In so long as the ‘lower class’ are kept comfortable, they can earn a living to take care of themselves and their families, there is internal peace. Less crime, less robberies outside your middle class neighbourhood. I stand to be corrected.

Sonko may not be the image of an ideal leader, but do we say this because of how he dresses? I acknowledge his sociological approach, I respect it and I support it. We need to challenge the conventional so that we move to the next step. He just may be our next step. He has always been standing out when fellow August House members are on another page. He sticks out like a sore thumb but he has not bowed down to pressure.

I am not a political analyst, just a simple plain Jane who wants change in her beloved country. Who wants peace and prosperity for her country. In my humble opinion, as I was discussing with my husband this morning, a combination of Sonko as Senator and Kidero as Governor shall help strike a balance in our representation. Both social classes shall meet, exchange ideas and learn from each other to improve our county. It is worth the shot. For how long shall we clamour for our leaders to only hail from the elite class yet that is not the situation on the ground. I think we need a leadership revolution and challenge the norm.

This is my two cents in the matter dear friend. All in all we all want a peaceful Kenya.