Nairobi University is one of the most prestigious in East Africa. The annual elections for the representative council are serious events. For an outsider the campaign posters seem standard electoral fare. Scratch the surface and it becomes clear that what happens in student halls echoes that which happens in East Africa’s national halls of power.
At the peak of the campaign I found myself sitting in a dorm with two Nairobi University student friends. Without notice, a troupe of six men invited themselves in and took a seat on one of the beds.
The campaign team shook the hands of myself and my five local friends in silence. They sat on the bed so closely that their cheap suits became ruffled. Our conversation was quashed. Campaigning began.
The smallest member of the group made his opening statement with ceremony. ‘Ladies … and gentlemen, this is our presidential candidate.’ The chap just beyond the end of the spokesman’s finger sat in a silver tie—a 20-year-old trying to act like an older statesman.
‘We are standing for the student elections because we represent the new Kenya. We represent the young Kenyans who want to overcome tribal divisions and to vote for a leader who will represent all tribes. Our vision is to make student politics at Nairobi University the model for the national assembly.’
My friends ‘oohed’ and gave approving nods to one another and the spokesperson at appropriate intervals. When the monologue was complete one of my friends spoke on behalf of the group.
‘We think it is right that the elections be fought along lines of merit not tribe. This is a good thing to see in our potential representatives.’
After fielding some questions on the mute leader’s behalf, the spokesman rallied his troops and thanked us for our time. ‘We can count on your vote, right?’ The room was unanimous, their vote was won. The would-be council president shook our hands again and left.
The door had barely closed when my friends began their hysterical chatter.
‘Beyond tribal lines? It will never work.’
‘How can they say they will overcome such things? Everyone knows a Kikuyu will win.’
‘It is so stupid that he comes in and says this. It is so obvious that they are Luo and who would vote in a Luo for council?’
As we walked out of the dorm room we passed the line of campaign posters.