The just concluded 2022 General Election was a momentous event. A petri dish of capitalist pandemonium and instability – now prominent features of Kenyan bourgeoisie democracy.
Through this chaotic election, we have witnessed the formation of the most bizarre alliances between purported communists and religious-fundamentalist capitalists, the elite capture of erstwhile ‘radical’ personalities, and the despair of millions of Kenyans who had sincere illusions in the promises of voting in a capitalist state.
Since the last election, the commission, media, pollsters, and strategists assured us that this process would not be a repeat of the highly disputed 2017 election. So how did things come to this? Historical materialism had prepared us for this eventuality. This was expected — it is by design.
Capitalists are now reaping from the post-election whirlwind in the form of expensive litigation and intra-capitalist negotiations as Kenyans find themselves yet again on the precipice of socio-economic hopelessness.
The ruling class has once again succeeded in manufacturing consent from Kenyans to (mis)rule by convincing millions of them to participate–earnestly so in an election that was essentially a two-party/coalition system that did not address the discontent in the country.
It is what we get when we approach politics on the so-called “lesser evilism”. Kenyans are coerced into voting for one or another evil. The way this works is that, it is guaranteed that eventually, the greater evil is going to win.
After the past election, the two factions of the ruling class became indistinguishable from each other as they scramble to form self-serving pacts amongst themselves. It is unfortunate how many people on the left caved to the pressure of ‘lesser evilism’.
The fundamental explanation for all of this happening is the lack of class politics in Kenya. Here, the working class is polarized along arbitrary lines like gender and ethnicity that divide us and keep us distracted while the elite continue with their class war.
Where do we go from here? It’s easier to wring our hands in defeat or pontificate about not voting–which is not a revolutionary stance on its own–or at worst, betray the cause by coalescing our movements/parties with revisionists in the ruling class who are cosplaying as revolutionaries.
We need to understand that the election is not an end in itself–as the system presents—but is merely a means to a concrete outcome: the eventual disillusionment in elections (when the ruling class will no longer wield use elections as a do or die process) and the building up of the forces of socialism.
We must not be distracted by the allure of progress through partial reforms granted by ‘benevolent’ representatives of the capitalist class. We should be striving towards the establishment of a workers’ state based on a revolutionary socialist program. Not settling for the ‘lesser evil’. We will not overcome this contradiction through a gradual, piecemeal fashion rather through a sustained mobilization of the proletariat class.
Karl Marx explained that elections under capitalism gives the masses the “right to choose” which representative of the elite will rule over them for the next few years. We must therefore expend our energies in alternative ways of engaging in politics.
Social change will not be decided through the ballot box, but in the factories, farms, offices, streets, and schools. We need to reimagine how we engage in politics prior to and post elections. As we come out of the fog and attain ‘post-election clarity’, it’s time to join or form dedicated organizations/movements that will help us overcome the deepening crisis of capitalism.
Let’s build or enhance grassroots labor movements to agitate for decent working conditions and wages. Let’s organize for active public participation in resource distribution. Let’s discuss our histories in matatu stages and jaba bases to understand why we are in this situation today. Let’s learn about the Mwakenya movement at the jaba bases in our neighborhoods. Let’s build communities that practice radical care and mutual aid. Let’s reimagine a better world away from ballot politics.
In dire times like this, Mariam Kaba’s words ring true “Let this radicalize you rather than lead you to despair. Let’s not go back, let’s build something better”.
*Maureen Kasuku is a Socialist Feminist based in Nairobi
