Riot police officers attempt to detain protesters who chained themselves demonstrating against what they say is a wave of unexplained abductions of government critics, along the Aga Khan walk in downtown Nairobi, Kenya December 30, 2024. PHOTO | REUTERS
Monday, December 30, 2024, was an unusual day in Kenya, and the so-called “Christian world”.
Street demonstrations rocked Kenya as thousands protested against abduction and enforced disappearance.
Such protests are rare in the Christmas/festive season and run-up to the New Year.
People are supposed to be busy nursing hangovers, schmoozing with relatives, or receiving presents from relatives from “abroad countries” as Ugandans say.
Not so in Kenya, and the signs of trouble were there. An opinion poll released by Infotrak ahead of Christmas reported that 60 per cent of respondents said they would not celebrate as they had in the past because of economic hardship, especially the rising cost of living.
Being broke and watching others load up their boots with goodies to head upcountry or to the beach for Christmas feasts is likely to sour one’s mood and, even, be annoying.
The weather is also not good because while in the West it is winter and snowing (so they are cooped up inside and under layers of warm clothing), in Africa Christmas in some places comes during a very hot and humid season, which leaves us generally irritable.
It has been 16 years since Kenyans took to the streets and faced off with police during the Christmas/New Year holiday, the last time being in December 2007/January 2008 in the bloody post-election violence.
Though the situation in 2007/2008 differed greatly from that of December 30, 2024, the two events share a common moment of national distress.
The response of the Mwai Kibaki government had elements that the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) could learn from.
The Kibaki government understood that the violence was sparked by the disputed election, but that its root causes were deeper economic and social grievances, decades-long exclusion of several groups from a share of the national cake, and landlessness.
While the formation of a new government following a power-sharing agreement between the combatants in the election, with Kibaki as President and opposition rival Raila Odinga as Prime Minister, tends to capture the most attention, it was good mostly as a ceasefire agreement as it aimed at political reconciliation and reducing ethnic tensions.
The groundwork for constitutional reform, which was finalised in 2010, was laid in 2008.
Discussions began on land reforms to address historical injustices and land allocation disparities, though comprehensive changes have not been implemented to date.
There was a push for reforms in the electoral system to ensure more transparency and fairness in future elections, including improving the operations of the Electoral Commission of Kenya.
To stabilise the country and kickstart a crippled economy, the Kibaki government offered the people and key constituencies social bribes.
The government focused on managing the budget deficit, prioritised recovery efforts, and controlled inflation.
Kibaki’s government in 2008 specifically introduced a farm loan waiver scheme.
The game-changing mobile money service M-Pesa, which was launched by Safaricom in March 2007, saw its rapid expansion and the beginning of its international acclaim in 2008.
It significantly increased financial inclusion, especially among those without traditional bank accounts, and it became a global model for mobile banking.
Ushahidi, a crowdsourcing platform for sharing eyewitness reports via text messaging or email, which was born in 2007 out of the need to document the post-election violence, expanded globally for various crisis mapping purposes in 2008.
The Kenya ICT Board was established in 2008, as part of key moves towards fostering an environment conducive for technology innovation.
In 2008, discussions and groundwork began for what would later become the Kenya Open Data Initiative, officially launched in 2011. The groundwork for spaces like iHub was laid in this period.
Although iHub officially opened in 2010, the idea of tech hubs as centres for innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship began to take shape in 2008.
In four short years, these initiatives had set the stage for Kenya’s later recognition as Africa’s “Silicon Savannah.”
Kenyan society burst out of it in a flourish. In 2008, a major Kenyan film, “From a Whisper”, was released. Directed by Wanuri Kahiu, “From a Whisper” received 12 nominations and won five awards at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009.
It also won the Best Feature Narrative award at the 2010 Pan African Film & Arts Festival and was honoured with the 2010 BAFTA/LA Festival Choice Prize.
Sauti Sol, officially formed in 2005, released their debut album “Mwanzo” in 2008, marking their entry into the music scene with a significant impact.
They became one of Kenya’s most successful bands, known for their blend of Afro-pop, R&B, and soul.
The list is long, but it tells us that a lot of magic tends to come from the ashes of things that burn in Kenya in December.
That, even a cynical exploitation of the fury that explodes before and in the New Year, can offer great reward.
The lionisation of Kibaki in recent years was the child of the disaster of December 2007/January 2008.
It might not seem like it, but President William Ruto could still have a few cards he can play.
