Sometimes we get angry because things that happen in our environment shouldn`t have happened in the first place,we feel someone else is responsible for this particular happenings and that;there is little we can do to change the situation into a favourable one.
This is the mood currently in the country (Kenya) as regards the registration of new voters,the president officially launched this exercise yesterday and through media reports,a considerable number of people did register as voters given that,Kenya can nolonger use the old voter register which was used in the last general election and led to post-election violence due to election malpractices.
I am compelled to write this particular post in the wake of apathy that is currently facing this noble exercise in our country`s history,i have heard lots of my friend and other citizen lament that what is the need of registering as a voter if what politicians can do is steal the votes once they cast? I have heard people say that there is no reason for them voting and consequently start fighting each other for exercising their democratic right by voting.
In the midst of all this,i share with all their sentiments,what i do not share in is the decision not to register as voters in the new voters registery which is being developed by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission of Kenya as one of the conditions agreed on in the reform process after the bungled election in 2007.
What worries me is when this sentiments come from young people my age and below,this disturbs me because our population is made of 70% of young people and if we all registered as voters and took part in an election,we would easily determine the future of beloveth country without any struggle.If we ever stopped being bought by older politicians who are driven by self-interests,if we supported fellow young people venturing in politics but with sound manifestos on how to turn this country around;we would indeed be doing justice to this country and its future.
I am convinced that we have an opportunity as young Kenyan`s to make change happen in this country even though it has been elusive for decades.If we take voters card and actively participate in the upcoming constitutional referendum,then it means we are able to have a new constitutional despensation in the country,a constitution that promotes political accountability,one that enables its citizens to participate actively in public affairs.
I can see hope in this country for a better future but only if we stopped living in despair drawing from what has happened to us in the past,we can use the past to plan for the future of this country.As young Kenyans and other citizens in general,this is an opportunity we cannot afford to squander and expect history to judge us fairly,LETS STAND UP and BE COUNTED because IT MATTERED TO DO SO!
