Leaders must take Charge now.

The background
struggle against colonialism, 1882 Coup attempt against former President Daniel Arap Moi and the glamour for multy party democracy in the nineties were very trying moments. Yet Kenya overcame all these difficulties and stabilized. It has remained a model of peace and tranquility in spite of poor human rights ratings by major local and global organizations.

The just concluded general election has therefore introduced Kenya into unfamiliar ground, presenting the country with her most shattered history. Kenyans are now more divided along ethnic lines more than any other known time in hisstory. The country has witnessed anarchy in the last one month. People who have known each other for years and lived together harmoniously suddenly realized that they belong to different ethnic groups and they have no love lost for each other. We have witnessed innocent Kenyans removed from public service vehicles and hacked to death because their identity cards bear ‘wrong names’. It is today dangerous to carry your national identity card. It has become a death certificate.

Houses have been burnt down to ashes. In the slums of Nairobi, irritated protesters and hooligans masquerading as justice crusaders have burnt houses and looted property with impunity sometimes burning their own structures forgetting that night would fall and nature would force them to bed.

Security structures in the country have either been overwhelmed with the clashes in different parts of the country or have just done a poor job. Many are the times when the police have been informed of impending breach of peace but they have either not turned up all together or come late after the destruction is done.

A call to action
In order to address the tragedy facing the country, all leaders in their own rights, from the parents to the government, must take charge to save our mother country. The fact that presidential results are in contestation does not negate the fact that the civil service remains intact and have the responsibility to act. The parents need to discuss with their children with a view to creating awareness on them to understand the short and long-term repercations of violence and wanton destruction of property. They should be taught about non violent and acceptable ways of addressing dissatisfaction.

The government should allow acceptable participation in democratic processes. Instead of the police using excessive force to disperse and sometimes brutalize innocent people engaged in peaceful processions, the same force should be used to protect them as they exercise their democratic rights and deal with those taking advantage of the situation. Why should the police kill defenseless civilians while they do not need a lot of energy to arrest them and prosecute them if they have disturbed law and order?

Village elders role
The village elders play a fundamental role in bringing the society together. Many villages in Korogocho did not suffer from massive destruction of property as would be expected in a slum setting. Village elders quickly mobilized their people and made them see the sense of togetherness and peaceful co-existence. In Kisumu Ndogo village which houses the famous Korogocho market, the elders appealed to people not to cause chaos since burning the market would affect about a quarter of Kasarani constituents who depend directly and indirectly from the market. To date the area has not reported any death or destruction of property in spite of increased cases of crime, which the residents allege is a scheme by the criminals to provoke violence so as to create room for looting.

The elected leaders on their part must spear head efforts to heal their electorate and reintegrate them back into united and harmonious co-existence. This is the time for true leadership to be reflected. Political crisis demand political solutions and politicians need to take lead in the process. They have the ability to prevail upon their people to save this country from eminent collapse. As a country, we need to address issues of justice, democracy and legitimacy with clean hands and hearts without victimizing innocent Kenyans . It is generally agreed within human rights and governance arena that there can never be peace without justice and justice without peace. The two need each other and negotiation teams from both the Party of National Unity and the Orange Democratic Party must address the two issues with the required levels of seriousness.

This post election controversy requires comprehensive attention so that Kenyans can get a solution so that we can continue with our usual daily lives. Every Kenyan demands this solution otherwise we set a dangerous precedent of electoral fraud and illegitimate leadership or a situation where candidates do not accept loosing elections fairly. It is during such times that the Country’s battered electoral commission must regain her lost glory and provide a solution. President Mwai Kibaki and Hon Raila Odinga are under political and moral obligation to provide leadership and save the country. The future of this country is squarely in the hands of the two leaders and the electoral commission.