See, I get what the IED and the “vijana” are up to and I wholly support it. The reason it is not (yet) going to exend to a vote from me is simply this: I will not vote for you simply because you are young. I will not vote for you simply because you say (and I believe you) that it is our time.
The vijana tugutuke campaign seems to me more like a campaign to the youth to be more politically aware and to start to participate in the electoral process – from a local council level to parliamentary politics and even to presidential politics. Great stuff. I agree.
But for the ones who have chosen to “stand”, then a higher responsibility immediately applies to them. TYhey must begin to be specific about what their position is on key realpolitik issues.
I would like for them to speak up on policy regarding education, health care, land redistribution and the squatter problem, investment stimulation and so forth. I would like to actually see hem participating in the campaign process and the political party process and to stand out in the way that they are operating. As the old Kiswahili adage goes “Kizuri chajiuza…”
It is frankly not enough for them to speak sheng’ on TV, spew out excellent lyrics, organise events that are more entertainment than political and generally make us feel nice and fuzzy inside. They MUST intelligently show direction, alternative or otherwise. They must act like leaders.
If you want to be taken seriously, then for God’s sake stand up straight and speak seriously about what you have to offer! The image they continue bolster that Vijana, are flaky, concerned with entertainment only and only generally interested in politics is counter productive at the end of the day.
It is my position, and perhaps that of many others, that if you want my vote, you have to justify to me why I should give it to you and demonstrate that you know enough not to be an idiot with it.