NAIROBI, Kenya- Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings—to see the world from their perspective, to step into their shoes.
It has long been a fundamental measure of care and concern for humanity.
Yet, as generations evolve, there seems to be a growing detachment from this emotion. Are we losing our capacity for empathy, or are we simply choosing to ignore it?
Hate, anger, and bitterness often stand in the way, fueled by past disappointments and perceived betrayals.
Take, for instance, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga siding with the government amid the Gen Z-led unrest.
The move left both his supporters and critics unsettled. Now, as his bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship collapses, many struggle to sympathize.
Instead, they see it as payback for what they perceive as his betrayal. A similar lack of empathy plays out online, where Kenyans on X (KOX) craft absurd jokes about death—even that of the late IEBC chairman.
Political frustrations blur the lines between humor and insensitivity, leaving little room for human decency.
Jokes can be powerful, but they can also cross moral lines. While humor about Raila’s ambitions may seem harmless, the same cannot be said about the Pope’s health being turned into memes.
Funny as they may be, such jokes are undeniably insensitive to the Vatican’s faithful and those holding their breath over his condition. Leaders have been quick to reprimand the public for such insensitivity.
But isn’t it ironic? The same leaders who demand empathy for their struggles rarely show it when innocent Kenyans are unlawfully killed or brutalized by security forces.
Since the Gen Z protests, countless Kenyans have disappeared or lost their lives. Yet, there has been little remorse from those in power.
So, when misfortune strikes the very people who have ignored these tragedies, is it really surprising that the public feels nothing?
Emotions happen naturally. When we fail to feel sympathy, it’s often because the event simply doesn’t affect us in the way it should.
