This last
week has been a busy one for politicians. The ruling coalition is now a single
party. All the constituent parties, most of them inconsequential, have wound up
and a big beautiful new one born. ODM, the leading opposition party has also
held its tenth birthday party. It was not just a party for reflection but for
new beginnings as well. It was a party to show renewed vigour in fighting to
win the government, come the next elections.
Politicians
are a reflection of society. The newness with which they declare everything is
a treasured mantra across the entire population. There is something special for
Kenyans in any new thing. 
Constitution
All of us
were excited to pass a brand new constitution. We had been promised that it
would provide a new beginning for us where everything would be perfect. It
would address all our problems such as corruption and negative ethnicity. It
would help us overcome poverty and ensure our security. It would do all this
for one reason only. It was new! Six years down the line, it is not so new
anymore and there are already talks of changing it and renewing it once more.
Projects
For some
strange reason, the government rarely budgets for repairs and maintenance of
expensive projects such as roads. It is common for a road to be left to
completely crumble before a new one is constructed in its place. The government
behaves like a person who demolishes a house and builds a new one because the
old one has faded paint. For the love of new things, our government is ready to
sink us in debt that we cannot get ourselves out in this lifetime.
Relationships
Divorce is
now cool. Why stick with an old spouse when you can get a new one? There is no
longer such a thing as lifelong commitment. You stay with someone only for as
long as he or she is the latest arrival. As soon as a newer person shows up,
you drop the old one. Please note; newness here is not only in reference to
age. It also refers to affluence. Newly moneyed people are considered young and
fresh irrespective of age.
Business
In my
village, there are several restaurants which have been around for as long as
anybody remembers. When the owners grow old (mostly men), they pass the
businesses to their sons (most of whom are my age). The youngsters know that
they cannot continue at the old man’s speed. They therefore give the place and
furniture a new coat of paint. They also put up a sign at a strategic place
saying, “Under New Management”. That sign alone is enough to give the business
a new lease of life and for the next decade or so, it does booming business
until a newer one opens up nearby.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Still in
line with business but on a bigger scale is the advent of mergers and
acquisitions. Former business rivals are now becoming such close friends to the
extent of joining their outfits into bigger companies. They are able to chase
new business with new colours and mottos.
Churches
The
Christian Religion has become confusing. There are so many churches,
ministries, and cults that it is hard to know which is real and which is not.
The only criteria that faithful have been left with to decide which church to
join is the newness. A new church attracts a lot of adherents. The same applies
to a church that has undergone a recent transformation such as a new
amphitheatre, or a new faith healer. A preacher who knows how to preach the
prosperity gospel in new and appealing ways will also attract an avalanche of
believers.
Public Relations
Today,
success is not just a matter of figures. It is also about perceptions. I once
had a funny colleague who used to say, “You don’t just have to work, you have
to be seen to be working”. Every ambitious person, whether in politics, business,
or gospel, is keen on the kind of image he portrays to the public. Public
relations companies are making a killing by creating the ideal images of their
clients. One thing they have to ensure is that those who they represent appear
to be the latest, newest, and therefore the coolest.
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