The Resurgence of Autocratic-Democracy in Kenya: A Philosophical Reconstruction

Abstract

One of the major goals of the freedom fighters in the post-independent Kenya was to establish a free and fair democratic society. A society in which each Kenyan with respect to the existing constitutional measures would be able to access socio-political and economic resources to improve his/her livelihood. The attainment of this objective has however been curtailed by the constant wrangles witnessed among Kenyans. Though Kenya has over the years been viewed as a growing democracy in Africa, the democratic ideals as expressed in the constitution are literary being eroded away by the political elite. Kenya is gradually sliding to autocratic leadership. This possibility is apparently an attainable reality because the more Kenyans become enlightened, the higher the possibility of Kenya becoming an autocracy as expressed through the elites' actions. This article by re-examining some of the factors that may have led to this autocratic tendency over the years in post-independent Kenya, proposes through a philosophical reconstruction a few reasons why it's important for her as a nation to rediscover the democratic ideals as intended by the founding fathers. The article through a speculative approach, provides the possible measures that if adopted could aid in ensuring Kenyans joyfully live together as a cohesive people.