Over the past weeks I talked to Kenyan's a lot about politics. What I saw was an incredible interest shown by everyone I talked to, from the cab driver to the manager. But also a certain acceptance, that there is an elite in power and people on the sidelines.

Experiencing a new culture is always a fascinating journey. Automatically the mind starts comparing the new impressions with what it already knows. For example when you pass the presidential residency and there is an insane traffic jam because the road is blocked 30 mins before the president leaves the estate. When he finally does get on his way, he is escorted by a convoy that resembles the one of president Obama. Police motorbikes leading the way, SUVs with bodyguards in front and behind the presidential limousines, follow by a mobile command post and some military truck with reinforcements.

I compare that to the last time I saw the president of my country, Switzerland. He was accompanied by his wife and kids standing next to me in the shopping mall. Kenyans still don't believe that story whenever I tell it.

I wonder what the reasons for this differences are. Kenya isn't the globally leading United States after all - of course it's also not the small, alpine country with a population of 8 million. What's the driving forces? The general security situation in a country? The threats from foreign powers to destabilize? The domestic opposition?

The longer I think about this issue, the more I feel those differences are not just results of a "given environment", but resemble something that’s deeply rooted in a society. All democracies are not the same, and despite our short collective memory of the past, history has shaped our cultures. Little nuances in the distribution of powers between executive, legislative, and judicial branches make a big difference. But much more, the perception of POWER is rooted in peoples conscious. Where I come from, I don't see a single politician or party being in control. Here, this power of a few seems to be a normal aspect of live. For example when the police escorts a minister to his office - not because it's necessarily safer, but because it will be easier to circumvent the traffic jam.

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Please share any comments and inputs you may have (comment function, twitter, e-mail, etc.). In my short write-ups I address topics that I am particularly interested in because they align with my values and beliefs. As such, they are always a reflection of my ideas, thoughts, and opinions. The only thing I am positive in that regard is that I do not have all the perspectives, all the knowledge, or all the facts - help me be better tomorrow.