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It is unacceptable for national leaders to resort to populist manoeuvres, even taking advantage of the suffering of poor citizens, to gain political capital. Tokenism replaces comprehensive policy responses to critical national challenges

Last weekend, Wole Soyinka, the doyen of African literature and an indefatigable soldier for freedom, thundered against “a culture of civic callousness, a coarsening of sensibilities and a general human disregard” in his home country, Nigeria. Reason?

“A bunch of self-seeking morons and sycophants chose to plumb the abyss of self-degradation and drag the nation down to their level” by putting up banners and signs in the federal capital Abuja with the words: BRING BACK JONATHAN 2015.

To Soyinka, this “dancing obscenity” mocked the global Internet campaign #BringBackOurGirls, which was launched months ago to demand the safe return/rescue of some 300 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in northern Nigeria. The government has spectacularly failed to rescue the girls, despite loud and repeated assurances plus Western military intervention.

Untouched by the tragic plight of the girls and their families, the self-seeking morons who put up the banners and signs sought to take advantage of that slogan to campaign for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in next year’s elections!

President Jonathan has distanced himself from the campaign and directed that the banners and signs be removed, as they are “a highly insensitive parody of the #Bring Back Our Girls hash tag.”

Something akin to this putrid politicking happened in Kenya last week. A media report about schoolgirls in central Kenya who were raising funds for the treatment of their colleague who has a kidney disease caught the attention of State House. President Uhuru Kenyatta then announced that the nation would be footing 17-year-old Stella’s medical bill.

"I was touched by your efforts to fundraise for your colleague. I felt we must act and do so now to support you," Kenyatta said after meeting five students from Stella's school.

A culture of civic callousness, a coarsening of sensibilities and a general human disregard!

How many people in Kenya are battling debilitating illnesses and are unable to pay for treatment? Has Uhuru sought them out with government offers to pay their medical bills? Is he waiting for the media to highlight their suffering before he acts? Or is Stella's life somehow more important than those of other Kenyans?

What is Uhuru’s policy response? Instead, what we have been treated to is a despicable populist attempt by Uhuru to use the sickness of Stella to gain political capital. It was a great opportunity for Uhuru’s PR people to project him as a compassionate leader.

When did it become the business of government to engage in philanthropy – using public money? The government must offer comprehensive policy responses to national questions such as the rising burden of chronic illnesses in Kenya.

* Henry Makori is an editor with Pambazuka News.

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