Let Cooler Heads Reign
Posted on December 30, 2007
Filed Under African Affairs
Like most folks within the diaspora, I have followed Kenya’s election results with great interest within the blogosphere and mainstream media. Ory at KenyanPundit, Mental, Thinker, Chris and everyone else on the ground have done a great job keeping us updated. I am, to say the least shellshocked at the blatant disregard for country the ‘powers that be’ have shown. If nothing, Kibaki has succeeded in further heightening ethnic tensions by his (and his cronies) actions. Let there be no doubt that this ‘government’ will go to ANY AND ALL lengths to protect it’s grip on power (including plunging the country into a civil war!). There are definite parallels between what is happening on the ground in Kenya politically and what has been going on in Pakistan, but this is a comparison for the another day.
There is enough blame to go around. Legitimate concerns about poll-related violence were founded. But I am all the more frustrated because the ECK is wholly to blame for not only the flawed outcome, but also for the violence erupting in the country as they pat each other on the back and continue to wallow in their ignorance in thinking this was a free and fair election. It may have been free, but not in the least bit fair. But let’s not stop there.
Media reports that Raila was planning a separate inauguration ceremony at Uhuru Park for the ‘people’s president’ and the formation of a parallel government are quite disheartening. It’s not only wrong, this action threatens to circumvent supposed democratic processes and structures in place to address election irregularities. We all know the election was flawed, but attempting to flex muscle to get to the top seat is definitely not the right way and sends a message of lawlessness in the country. If we want our ‘democracy’ to grow, we have to put the onus on the court/justice system to address these irregularities. If for nothing else, to put the spotlight on them, witness them work and render our judgment based on their assessment.
We have serious problems to resolve. Losing our heads, burning cars and bridges and violence along ethnic lines do nothing but heighten tensions and make the journey to a brighter future all the more tedious. There I sed(sic) it!
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5 Responses to “Let Cooler Heads Reign”
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Magaidi.com is the journal of the African kid. A diary of sorts, a collection of musings and a discussion point on the way forward for the motherland.
I agree. The election was not even close to being fair. I believe Kibaki has done a lot to set the foundation for a better Kenya. He has been found wanting in other areas especially having gone whole term without a new constitution. However, I think he deserved a second term to continue planting more seeds and after the second term step down and let another person take over. In as much as I did want Kibaki to win, I hoped he would win it fair and square. That was a big disappointment
Another voice of reason and objective writing. We need a whole lotsa of you at this time. Logic need to prevail at the moment.You and a few in KBW are leading the way. Ahsante!
That election was very very flawed to say the least. But that in itself doesn’t support calls for war. Like many other people what I advocate now is peace, we are not happy but burning down the country will not help us at all.
The alleged rigging is discouraging for the voters who ‘basked’ in the sun for hours thinking that they were going to make change. The contenders are not being fair to the local mwananchi.
I had extensively been following the campaign trail of the “three horses” in the race. Likewise, I have been keenly looking into the aftermath of the elections….true the elections were deeply flawed but ’twas from BOTH pnu and odm’s side and there’s conrete evidence even from Railas own mouth! ODM’s rant & rave is that pnu inflated the presidential votes massively whereas irregularities on their side were minimal. What does this tell you…asiyekubali kushindwa si mshindani! I’m not just being ignorant and throwing stuff out there but I’m sure most would agree with me that there’s no small thief or big thief…..stealing is stealing and if Raila was beaten in this cat and mouse game that didn’t start yesterday, then what his party has resulted to “solving the crisis” goes to show what kind of a leader he’d be. I don’t understand why people fail to see clearly that Raila’s one very very POWER(Executive) hungry politician and also One Dangerous Man(ODM). Power hungry and dangerous because he is seeking power at the expense of innocent blood being shed….People may think I’m bloviating but try following Raila’s campaign trail right from the word go to now…from his speeches and media interviews and all these will make sense to you….I could write a whole lot more but I’ll conclude with this…..Raila and his primary party mates…William Ruto(a very dangerous individual),Henry Kosgei,Balala just to mention but a few had very BIG BAD plans for Kenya and they had strategised everything way ahead of the elections and were sure they’d win hence their “shocking” disappointment of the outcome!