Aiham: ​why I am scrubbing these walls (and why I’m running)

I grew up watching both my mother and father work to sustain a family, and give the little they had to a catalytic movement for democracy – sacrificing their hard earned time to try and make this a better place for us. Unfortunately, these generations ended up jaded when push never came to shove. Following their path, I spent my early adolescence and my 20s as an activist and community organiser with NGOs such as Dhivehi Youth Movement, Project Damage Control, Save the Beach Maldives, Katti Hivvaru Festival, Fannuge Dharin, and countless more through my time in civil society, including being the chair for the Maldives Surfing Association, at a young age of 18.

​Throughout the years, we have protested, organised and shouted for change to no avail, for shouting does not level streets nor does it fix the traffic gridlock that steals hours from our parents and friends. Shouting does not plant trees and nor does it make our islands any more liveable!

​I decided to run for mayor not because I want a title, but because I want to establish a semblance of political hygiene for upcoming generations – my children. I want to transform Greater Malé into a smart city that accommodates both the old and the young; a city that empowers dignified living and serves as a true connectivity hub for the atolls. I want to free families from the heavy burden this city imposes on them.

​My first promise is not a vague political dream that magically solves your struggles; it is a pledge that my campaign will not add to the mess. 

​Some will point out that I am young at only 27 years old. While true, my only promise is that I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponents by way of seniority, experience, or their lack of the city's pulse, or rather the "vibe" as the younger electorate would put it.

​I say that with a smile and arms extended to shake hands, but also with morbid seriousness. I am not here to be rude to the elders who built this city. Rather, I am here to respect them and earn the proverbial torch they are to pass down. Which is why I am seeking the counsel of city legends. We need their wisdom but we require new legs and fresh faces with modern philosophy to run this marathon.

​Let me be extremely clear: I am not against political parties but instead, acting against the many layers of red tape that conceals the grand corruption festering in the hearts of the political elite. I believe deeply in our (unrestricted) freedom of assembly and the right to lobby for our needs, as it is the root of our hard earned democracy. I stand firmly rooted against the entrenched warfare that turns neighbours into enemies just to win election cycles. 

​When parties dig trenches, the city gets stuck in the mud. We need not choose between Black and White; but stand in unity, choosing our lives instead. We are building a dynamic movement for this moment, one big enough to accommodate both sides, all sides, and everyone in between.

​I am Aiham, ‘Kenaa’ as some might know me as, and my intention is not to divide the vote, or cause chaos, but rather to unite the city, its communities, and usher in a new form of (non-partisan) politics that prioritises accountability, transparency and representation of the people (stakeholders) at every level of decision-making.

​That means installing smart, dynamic traffic light systems, experimenting with public transport during school hours to serve children exclusively and/or implement cascading timings to manage the flow of school runs, office rushes, and business hours so we are not all gridlocked at once. We urgently need to create innovative parking solutions to free up our roads, de-traffic narrow alleys, making it pedestrian friendly, and introduce bicycle sharing programmes to reduce motor vehicle dependencies. We need to preserve the remaining "three percent" of vegetation, plant trees that promote shade and create community green spaces; bringing back the ornamental varieties of hanging jasmine over doors and balconies that once made our city unique and truly us.

Ultimately, if there is one thing that I want you, the reader, to take out of this, is that in order for there to be a shift in cultural values and beliefs, we do not have to walk very far. It is not only probable, but also entirely possible. ​This is the work I am ready to inspire. Let us clean these walls and start afresh!

Editor's note: The Maldives Independent has offered all mayoral candidates the opportunity to publish op-eds on equal terms.