This is why the concept of a revolution in Kenya is a very fragile thing when it comes to #Covid19Millionaires and #EnoughIsEnough
(These thoughts are a compilation from a close friend of mine, Wesley Kanyeria.)
(THREAD)
(These thoughts are a compilation from a close friend of mine, Wesley Kanyeria.)
(THREAD)
The idea of a revolution is where a current ruling party is over thrown by the oppressed party. Or where the current ruling class is over thrown by the oppressed under class.
Revolutions aren't all rainbows and roses, there is no marching to State House, holding arms singing freedom songs and Kumbaya while the leader there politely steps down to let a more fit individual take over. Revolutions are bloody and gruesome and horrible.
And the overthrowing party has 90% to blunder once they get into power. And on the 10% chance they do succeed, the immediate effects of the revolution are so catastrophic that at times some events are barely remembered well.
We have a class revolution and a political revolution. One focuses on a group of people, one focuses on the political alignment.Kenya there's 3 classes; high, middle & low. I won't speak about the political parties in the country but we have the jubilee as ruling political party
Some Kenyans will agree they expected things to be better when they voted their leaders in. A political revolution, though less bloody than a class revolution, has happened before in Kenyan history, but not on such a bloody scale due to the political system pre multiparty days.
Right now the divide between the rich and poor is very large, with the common man being the latter and the politicians being the former. Due to this, the upper class are associated with corruption, greed and oppression.
Even in Kenyan literature works, you rarely see a rich household that doesn't hold some form of greed & corruption. If a political revolution were to happen in Kenya, it would spur into a class revolution as those revolting would be unable to distinguish good upper class from bad
Case & point: the French Revolution, where the guillotine, a tool used to oppress the lower class was used against the upper class. With today's use of social media, we see the upper class "flaunt" their money in the faces of the lower class.
So what's stopping Kenya from going into a full blown revolution like France. A couple of reasons:
1. Way of thinking
2. Tools of oppression
3. Relation.
1. Way of thinking
2. Tools of oppression
3. Relation.
1. WAY OF THINKING
Due to how the system works in Kenya, the lower class thinks that they need the upper class to survive. That without the upper, they would have no way to survive. This is shown by people going to work under abusive bosses, househelp mistreatment etc.
Due to how the system works in Kenya, the lower class thinks that they need the upper class to survive. That without the upper, they would have no way to survive. This is shown by people going to work under abusive bosses, househelp mistreatment etc.
2. TOOLS OF OPPRESSION
Most common being the police, who the moment they enter the force, are conditioned to loyally serve those with money, even if that policeman belongs to the lower class. In the police force, they want to be associated with rich powerful people.
Most common being the police, who the moment they enter the force, are conditioned to loyally serve those with money, even if that policeman belongs to the lower class. In the police force, they want to be associated with rich powerful people.
A good example is the GSU who will enforce brutality on protesters to ensure that the status quo remains. When Kenyans went to the streets months ago to protest police brutality, they were met with teargas, batons, imprisonment, scars and bruises.
When Kenyans joined by the white community went to the U.S embassy to protest for black lives matter, they were met with calm and collected policemen silently observing & even at times guarding them. What does this show?
When the lower class protests it is treated as a riot and act of defiance that should be met with brutality. When the upper class protests, it is treated as a proper use of their rights and should be met with a listening and caring ear. The system is broken.
3. RELATION
Most lower class members have a loved one or a relative who is in the upper class. Should a revolution take place, there's the very high risk that the loved one/relative will be a victim subjected to the aftermath of revolution i.e. prosecuted, or worst case, killed.
Most lower class members have a loved one or a relative who is in the upper class. Should a revolution take place, there's the very high risk that the loved one/relative will be a victim subjected to the aftermath of revolution i.e. prosecuted, or worst case, killed.
Most of us fall under this group where they are closely related or well connected to a member of the upper class. As objectively as we may want a revolution, deep down we risk calling out on the connections that secured us jobs and financial comfort. We don't want to cut it off.
When you factor all these in, you realize that no matter how many people are silenced or killed under police brutality, no matter how many billions are stolen, no matter how much our country goes into debt, a revolution will MOST LIKELY not happen from the lower or middle class.
And thus begs the question, when faced with the loss of all your wealth, prestige, fame, secured job, lives of your loved ones and cutting off those connections from people in power, WOULD YOU REVOLT?
Food for thought.
Food for thought.
I did mention that I've compiled thoughts from a friend of mine who's a great thinker and psychoanalyst. Wesley Kanyeria (@wesley_theuri) is his name.
