Why the 'United Opposition' is Programmed to Fail the Government

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Professor Makau Mutua, in a recent social media commentary, delivered a sharp critique of the “United Opposition,” calling their constant harangues against the governing body not so much an issue of policy failures but more a case of power struggle realities.

For Mutua, power seekers in the “political cold” loudly opposing the government are not just exercising their freedom of expression—they are fighting for survival.

Mutua posits that the non-ruling politicians are motivated by one and only one goal: state power acquisition. In order to get there, they will have to take apart, smear, and vilify the government that is sitting.

He claims that the loud dissenting voices continue no matter what angle one may take on the government’s performance issue.

Therefore, in this view, even a well-performing administration will still have to face hostility, as the opposition’s main task is to attract attention to themselves by creating a power vacuum.

The professor singles out one particular social factor that deepens the animosity: the post-colonial period.

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The post-colonial period in many countries has resulted in the state not only being a neutral regulator but also assuming a huge role in the economy and society.

Since the state owns a very large proportion of the resources, provides most of the jobs, and has a strong social influence, the difference between being “in” or “out” of state power is magnified tremendously.

Thus, the “winner-takes-all” scenario turns political opposition into a bitter, high-stakes scraping for economic significance.”Kupayuka ni lazima!” (Shouting/Ranting is a must!) — Prof. Makau MutuaWhat is more, Mutua argues that if the opposition did not act in this manner, they would be committing “political malpractice.”

From a purely tactical point of view, an opposition that keeps quiet or agrees with a government that is doing well makes itself unnoticed and irrelevant in the eyes of the electorate.