Everybody has their own vision of Shangri-La; where life approaches perfection. The question is, why do we choose the politicians we choose? Have we fallen victim to “to the political illusion,” as illustrated by the political writer Jacques Ellul? Is government actually capable of creating the good life? 

The 2022 election was a first of its kind. It has been argued that this election transcended the narrow confines of ethnic politics, even as political violence remained at the forefront of the electorates mind. The margins between the two frontrunners were slim. It was an unpredictable and fiercely fought battle up until the supreme court ruling in September. Dr. William Samoei Ruto was declared the fifth president of Kenya and we needed to accept and move on. Yet, this time round, half the electorate were elated and the other, thoroughly deflated. What needs to be interrogated is how to come back from such a hotly contested race and move forward as a nation. 

A significant differentiating feature in this election, is a proportionately high number of women ran for political office and won. Many being first timers and others like Toto, campaigning on little to no resources and managing to convince her constituency that she is the right woman for the job. This marked a change in the tide. Besides that, we had three female candidates for deputy president. The most prominent of the three was Martha Karua, but there was also the vivacious Justina Wamae, who stunned the nation as she demonstrated her political wit and confidence during the national debates. This was the motivation behind several women groups that congregated to support female candidates. 

Allow me to borrow Oprah’s words, “Passion is energy.” Martha’s candidature presented an exciting opportunity for women. As the professional women of Nairobi, we made a call to action for women to lobby for her nomination and subsequently, support her throughout the campaign. Our movement grew into a national movement, that included women in the diaspora. So pivotal was the moment, that we organized ourselves on social media. Through daily efforts, we individually used our own resources to birth a nascent dream; the possibility of having the first female deputy president in Kenya. It would have been historic, and we played our part in attempting to smash the glass ceiling. Unfortunately, we didn’t! 

Is it possible to harness that passionate energy that steered us to come together? The answer is Yes! The United Women’s Council (UWC) was delivered. UWC’s vision is to advance the position of women to lead in their spheres of influence. We recognize that women can take various leadership roles that are not limited to the political arena. We also appreciate that we also need to prepare to serve. That notwithstanding, we know there are challenges in seeking leadership positions, that need to be overcome. Our coming together helped us realize that with collective responsibility and action, we are better placed to achieve our dreams. In many ways, the opportunity has not been lost to us because of the election outcome. It awakened us to our potential and the movement could not have come at a better time, as Kenya turns sixty next year. This is a watershed moment. 

So, what next? The driving force behind our movement is the spirit of “Kujitolea”. The future and prosperity of this nation is not the sole responsibility of our leaders. The citizens must take part in weaving the future we long for. The ballot is not the only way to express our desires. We cannot wait for five years to begin the discussion on what type of leaders we want or what we expect them to do for us. It must be an ongoing conversation among us and with our leaders. But first things first, we must get organized!

Anyone who is contemplating running for office in 2027 must remain cognizant that the electorate is empowered. They mustn’t create their own Shangri-La. The government can create the good life, but it must be demand driven. Leaders and their followers should have a shared vision of prosperity and shared responsibility. UWC will play its part, in ensuring it happens for the common good of the people of Kenya.