By Mtoto Mdogo
The word rally means a lot in its context but what I would want to talk about is. “An event in which competitors drive through a series of timed special stages at intervalsâ€. The one in focus in of no doubt political rallies.
A lot has been said about making Kenya better and learned friends have made numerous suggestions but there hasn’t been undisputable solution to the problems of high cost of living, insecurity, corruption, favoritism, unequal distribution of resources and ignorance.
Many a times, we tend to look at the cause of a problem and failing to tackle the problem itself. For instance, when a thief steals and he/she is arrested, that isn’t the solutions because how many such thieves are left behind and the following day does the same act again.
Arrest is just but a step, the solution is looking deep down into what triggered this particular individual to steal and once that is solved, no more such acts will be witnessed. Poverty leads to all sources of evil doing, a poor man will spare nothing in order to get what to eat even if it is stealing, solving poverty issue is key in making any nation a better place to live.
 
Why should we then ban political rallies/campaigns in Kenya forever?
• Such rallies/campaigns are an opportunity cost; they distract attention and therefore instead of people focusing on what they were or are supposed to be doing, they run after the politicians as business of the day come to a stand- still as has been witnessed major cities and towns.
• There is a lot pollution taking course; in most of the posters, you will never find an agenda except for the name of a candidate and party symbol. These posters make our cities look unpleasant as many of the posters stay as long as five years if it is not the rain that washes them off. During the time of moving from station A to B, a lot of air pollution by dusts is rampant.
• Unexpected deaths, injuries and conflicts; not once have we heard through the daily news that at least a good number of people suffered both minor and major injuries on their bodies as others lost their lives. Life is a precious gift from God and hence shouldn’t be taken for granted at any cost. Rival groups have conflicted with another not once but many times and the results even a class one kid knows.
• Misuse of resources at the expense of the less fortunate; a lot of capital is directed in campaigns instead of being used in developing the nation to benefit the citizens and avail equal opportunities for all. Just how many billions have been and are still being used to fund political rallies at campaigns? As they fly up, a hungry person looks and hopes to be dropped for at least 50/- to buy something to eat.
 
• There are better platforms to sell policies other than rallies and campaigns; for instance it would be cheaper organizing for a debate that is aired in both official and local languages than campaigning. An individual can also use the press to publish his/her manifesto and availing it for the people. Being in a digital generation, this can also be done electronically.
• Campaigns has been a conducive platform to spread hate speech; a number of politicians not once but many at times have used such platforms to divide people along tribal lines and hence no unity among citizens.
• An estimation of poverty level reduction to at most 0.5% countrywide could be realized.
• There will be complete accountability among the elected leaders as opposed to as it is currently.
• The probability of the country living in unity, peace and harmony will be 99.9%