Protesters pose with a police shield outside parliament in Ouagadougou, 2014 [Photo, telegraph.co.uk]
Back in 2014, Burkina Faso’s MPs had a plan to allow their then president, Blaise Comparore, to extend his 27 year rule.
The MPs had a bold plan to amend the constitution...but they did not anticipate the protests that would follow such an attempt.
The Burkina Faso citizens protested and ended up burning the country’s parliament, Ouagadougou’s city hall and the ruling party's headquarters.
They were all in flames and the citizens had united in a show of defiance against their lawmakers and president.
The military also joined in the protest and took this opportunity to take the reins from Comparore.
What can Kenyan MPs learn from this?
That their power in parliament is not absolute and final. They can keep coming up with bills and amendments to the constitution…but the local citizen is watching their every move.
We are in a digital age where social media can cause unity from protesters of different political camps. Can you imagine...Jubilee and Nasa supporters hand in hand, on their way to parliament?
I am not advocating for anarchy and a burning down of parliament. Please do not crucify me for my creative imagination and watching to many films.
All I am saying is that the MPs should not assume that they are the ones with the power. Power belongs to the citizens who have elected them for representation purposes only!