Three Women and the Referendum

The date for the National Referendum on the Proposed Constitution Kenya (PCK) is on 4th August 2010; and it is approaching very fast. The ‘greens’ (those in favour) and the ‘reds’ (those opposed to) are busy campaigning. They are even breaking the law by campaigning ahead of the day provided for by the Constitution of Kenya Review Act. Already, there is friction between and within both ‘camps’. In the midst of this, everyone is angling themselves to either get into power or stay in power come the next elections.

Further, there are those campaigning for this colour by day, but by night, for the other colour. Yet others have been said to belong to ‘yes/no/yes/no’ camp; meaning they are undecided or simply playing to the gallery. Similar to a prayer, which usually has three answers from the Lord (yes, no, or wait) they are hoping that the referendum will have the choice of voting ‘wait’. But they are mistaken. The referendum question is whether you approve or disapprove. There is no ‘wait’.

Within this confusion are three women, who are the ‘Wanjiku-type’. They are totally left out of the debate. Not knowing where to go or who/what to vote for, they are suffering from confusion. Like any other electoral process, the referendum is posing yet another challenge. The challenge of what to vote for, whom to vote for, and why to vote: especially given that the last time they cast their ballot, Kenya went up in flames. The three women are typologies of many Kenyans who are bewildered. They are abstracted for purposes of illustrating why you need to make an informed choice come the referendum day.