Those who nicely and actually remember how Kenya strangely and awkwardly sank into what is now famously known as Post-Election Violence (PEV) bloodbath resulting from the allegedly rigged elections 2007, will agree with me. Come August general elections, Kenya needs what I’ll call Post Election Victory (PEV) in which there won’t be any loser but winners conditionally that the elections must be conducted fairly, peacefully and justly. This means, those who’ll get voters’ consent to form the next government must be allowed to do so without any pretexts whatsoever. And those whose votes won’t allow them form the government must concede defeat. Winning and losing are the results of any credible competition. Again, all depends on how the rules of the game are abode by judiciously and legally. I don’t need to invoke the Fragments of Olympian Gossip to prove my point[s]. The author of this poem says “perhaps I failed, but I did my best” the king must heroically admit even if he inherited such a sacred blood of being a progeny of the master blackmailer. Nobody is created to become president. Anybody can be president; and who knows and decides about who fits the bill is none other than voters. This is what we call democracy in which winning and losing are the same provided that doing so furthers the interests of the hoi polloi as opposed to the hidden interests of hoity toity.
For the coming elections to produce winners, Kenyans need to participate fully. They need to vote based on the agenda but not blood extraction or based on who pays them how much. They can take the monies many politically bankrupt, corrupt and skinny politicos and their major domos offer; and still deny them their votes. What are they buying if at all elections are about getting somebody to serve the citizens? I am not fond of accusing Kenya of stinking and negative tribalism though it exists. Again, who wakes the devil up if it isn’t scrawny politicians? I am tired of hearing that Kenya is a tribal country. Kenyans, as well, need to get tired of this haggard tag. If anything, August 8th is the time for Kenya and Kenyans to double down and prove right or wrong the belief that Kenya isn’t a nation but a congregation of ever warrying tribes. Emphatically, August 8th–if used well–is supposed to be the day of singing a dirge for negative tribalism in Kenya.
I must echo President Uhuru Kenyatta’s avows saying that “we in Jubilee are asking the opposition to maintain peace and sell their agenda and policies instead of dwelling on insults. After Kenyans have made their choices, we shall accept their decision.” I must recommend Kenyatta and chide him to live up to his words while he steps up a notch to make sure that all under his control must follow suit.
Further, Kenyatta goes on saying that “I want to be perfectly clear, these perpetrators of violence and lawlessness will be dealt with.” Once, again, let Kenyatta live up to his promises instead of losing touch with reality chasing the state house. So, too, NASA’s flag bearer Raila Odinga needs to take a leaf from Kenyatta. This is obvious given that these two protagonists are the ones to decide Kenya’s fate come August 8. Importantly, the duo needs to know that Kenya is above and more important than everything including their presidential ambitions. As for voters, the coming elections need to be the opportunity for Kenya to regain its lost public fief. Further, these elections should be about righting the wrongs the PEV 2007-08 caused. They must be about Kenya but not tribes or "it- is-our-time-to-eat-missions" and paltry politics of tummy and small things. Above all, the coming elections must be about peace, justice, and the oneness and the unity of the country but not tribalism and hooliganism. We, your neighbours, wish you very peaceful and successful general elections 2018. May God stand by you though you need to stand by yourself before.
Source: The Citizen Wed., today.
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