The 2026 US midterm elections offer Kenya a lesson ahead of next year's General Election: voters expect governments to deliver, while political parties must present credible alternatives and practical plans.
The November 3 elections saw Democrats win control of both chambers of Congress in a setback for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. The outcome demonstrated that political support cannot be taken for granted and that parties must respond to citizens' concerns.
For Kenya, approaching the August 10, 2027 General Election, the message should be clear: the government must account for its record, the opposition must present workable alternatives, and political competition should focus on ideas that improve people's lives.
Kenya needs a politics of development rather than one driven by insults, resentment and endless confrontation.
A strong opposition is essential to democracy. It questions government decisions, exposes wrongdoing and offers alternative policies. However, criticism alone cannot constitute a national development programme.
Kenyans deserve to know what those seeking to replace the current administration would do differently. What are their proposals on healthcare financing, agricultural productivity, employment creation and economic growth? How would they implement these plans, what would they cost and how would their success be measured?
It is easy to declare government policies failures.
