What Kenyans abroad learnt from watching US elections

Kenyan students in the US continue to share lessons they took from the just-concluded US elections that saw Joe Biden beat President Donald Trump.

Speaking to the Nation, Peter Oluoch, a Biomedical Sciences PhD student at UMass Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, said that it was an interesting experience for an outsider. 

“People here are organised, calm and they show up at rallies to listen without disruption,” he said, adding that political rallies in the US have smaller crowds compared to those in Kenya. They also mostly take place on weekends or after working hours. 

“Despite the challenges, American democracy is another level of maturity,” he adds. 

He notes that political deceit is a problem everywhere but, according to him, Kenyans fall for it more easily. 

Another student, Maureen Ojiambo, says US party politics is more issue oriented and spotlights problems like the wage bill and America’s economy.

“I haven't seen politicians use young people to cause violence just because a contest is heated,” says Ms Ojiambo, a student of Media and Journalism in the State of Wisconsin.

“The electorate is not lured using new roads, wheelbarrows or new stadiums,” she adds.

She is also of the view that Democrats won the election because of two key issues.

"Americans want a president who will save them from what they see as a shame  in the handling of Covid-19 given that the whole world is 'laughing' at them, and also because of the Black Lives Matter movement," she says.

Youth

According to Alex Wagikuyu, a Masters in Finance student at Clark University, Massachusettes, the Kenyan media has a role to play in guiding young people to make the best political choices.

“Young people here are very active, volunteer and support candidates whose policies they most resonate with,” he says.

"They need to question and assess politicians based on their policy positions." 

Additionally, he notes that the US media uses a lot of their coverage to hold political candidates to account over their actions, rhetoric and past political positions.

Ms Ojiambo echoes this sentiment, too, saying: “I know we can do better given a good environment where no reporter feels threatened for criticising and spotlighting politicians.” 

While Massachusetts has a large student population from different parts of the country, Kenyans there found it interesting that it was mostly quiet even during the campaign period.

“Because of the low unemployment rates here, youths are not easily manipulated by the political class,” Ms Ojiambo said.

“Though I did not like the fact that they kept on campaigning even on election day, the youths are always busy looking for money because life is so expensive and you can't afford to be idle and keep following politicians up and down.”

Lessons

"I have learnt a lot,” says Mr Oluoch. “America has a lot to fix but what is incredible is the young people, their activism, belief in progress and advocacy for a better, just and equal society."

He believes Biden is the perfect outcome from the election. 

“He has reiterated his commitment to unite the country and embrace everyone.” 

Mr Wagikuyu agrees with him: “Biden does not embrace the same anti-immigrant rhetoric that Trump has espoused since he came to office.” 

On her part, Ms Ojiambo has learnt first-hand that a working democracy and political leaders who respect the Constitution are  vital ingredients for prosperity. 

“Even the way they express their dissatisfaction is so good, no much disruption to normalcy.”

She also reckons that Kenya is a long way from executing a hotly-contested electoral process of such a calibre.

"At home systems are interfered with and officers bribed if not intimidated to make certain candidates win, but in America even incumbents are defeated."