Great Lessons On Co-existence Between Electioneering and Economic Progress From The American Experience.

By Mwangi Wanjumbi – Newtimes B. S. CEO & Chief Consultant/Trainer

The world watched and listened attentively as Americans came to terms with their electioneering. In Kenya particularly, we were unlikely to ignore the process given that the eventual winner is 50% of Kenyan origin as one prominent writer theorizes. Indeed, it is not in dispute that President Obama’s father was Kenyan, therefore the assertions. Nonetheless, the occurrences in America, the foremost global leader present invaluable lessons not only for Kenya, but also the rest of Africa as well as the developing world.

In fact, the experiences including those of China and other developed nations affect us just as if they were occurring in our neighborhood, especially in a now borderless global village. We are experiencing the same global competitiveness and economic realities. As such, we can only choose to ignore the lessons at our own peril.

In that regard, insights on the electioneering process of the American nation are invaluable. Firstly, the elections are largely based on issues of concern to Americans. Name-calling, empty rhetoric and outright violence, as we are largely used to, are not part of the menu of the American campaigns.

Secondly, the winner of American presidential elections is largely determined by swing states, also referred to as battleground or toss up states. The 2012 presidential elections comprised about 11 states which collectively hold 146 Electoral College votes that included Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin Interestingly, President Obama claimed all the battleground states safe for North Carolina which went to Romney. So, why do these battle ground states determine the outcome of the elections?

Ideally, there are two predominant parties in America. That includes the Democratic and Republican parties. Since the parties are ideologically different (Republicans are conservative while the Democrats are said to be liberal), their followers are party royal.

As such democrats will vote with their party whereas the Republicans will do likewise. Thus, the election outcomes are somehow predictable depending on the party allegiances. On the other hand, the swing states are largely independent of the two predominant parties. Winning these states depends on who has better policies and articulation of issues. Ultimately, the tossup states determine the presidential winner based on who is first to clinch the 270 electoral delegates that are constitutionally required. In the current scenario, Obama clinched a landslide of 332 delegates against Mitt Romney’s 206.

Meanwhile, as the electioneering process continued in America, the economic progress persisted. That was continually portrayed by increased reduction on national unemployment rates whose proportion was 7.9%, by the end of October 2012, just a few days to the elections. If it was happening in our situation, accusations of doctoring could no doubt rent the air.

Alongside, comparing those dynamics to our own could be depressing. During electioneering, hell breaks lose on matters economy. All new state projects and programs as well as those for organizations are put on hold, until the conclusion of the elections. This is so because nobody can be sure whether the elections will be peaceful or not, just the same way the results are unpredictable. It is about wait and see attitudes. The whole nation turns to crises management as far as economic activities are concerned.

Effectively, the Kenyan nation is given a raw deal by the political order. When economic activities are slowed down, tax remittances are reduced; provision of services is slowed down too. Yes – the African time concept, which is driven by events, comes into play. Thus, campaigning takes toll on the economy.

Sadly, electioneering hangover continues long into the new political order. The election outcomes are followed by more wait and see attitudes as people come to terms with the results. Whether the same will be accepted by all concerned seems to be the question.  Actually, will there be peace after all this?

And when peacefully concluded, more time is assigned to celebrations through what is now commonly referred to as homecoming parties. Alongside, invaluable efforts better allocated to economic activities are lost as time continues elapsing.

All the while, the developed world continues with achievement of their economic development goals and objectives. In a highly competitive global environment, how shall we ever match in the competitiveness of nations?

Naturally, it is time to tone down politics so that they can coexist harmoniously with economic activities. The challenge is how and who takes charge in transforming the prevailing situation. Is it mwananchi or the political order? Actually, it is doubtful whether the latter can pleasantly be involved.

Luckily, our new constitutional order has borrowed some leaf from the American system. Political order is likely to be separated from national management structures. Government ministries will now be headed by un-elected technocrats, rather than the usual ministers picked from the elected politicians.

Under such circumstances, it may just be a matter of time, before witnessing the economy thriving in total disregard of political calendars. But then, we can only hope and pray that those aspirations prevail, as expressed through the August 2010 referendum. That could probably enhance the chances of joining the league of middle income nations as envisaged through vision 2030. Nevertheless, we deserve to become a competitive nation just like the rest, even as we continue pursuing the vision.