Approximately five years after the disputed 2007 elections and only less than a year towards the next general elections, it seems Kenyans have not yet learnt the lesson that violence will never promote a free and fair election but peace will do.
Instead, part of the electorate in Kenya has resorted to violence as a way of quenching their grievances thus eroding the virtue of democracy that guarantees every citizen to make his own reasonable judgment as far as leadership is concerned.
This backward and illegal behavior was witnessed during the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} nominations for the by-election in Ndhiwa constituency where angry and irate voters attacked a presiding officer for delaying the voting exercise at Ratang’a primary school.
The angry voters snatched the ballot box from the presiding officer and tore the ballot papers with little regard to article 67{b} of the Election Act that prohibits the destruction of any nomination papers.
Were it not for the police officers who moved with speed to save the life of the presiding officer, the officer would have faced the wrath of the angry mob that proved to be ignorant of the rule of law and their responsibility to ensure the electioneering process is credible.
Their concern that the delay was a move by certain aspirants to collude and rig the votes may be genuine but their violent acts did not help the situation.
The incident brings into sharp perspective the ODM National Elections Board which is mandated with responsibility of ensuring its internal nomination exercise adheres to the electoral code of conduct.
It is high time the ODM National Elections Board moves with speed and ensure the perpetrators of the vice suffer the consequences to avert a reoccurrences in the near future.
Moreover, such violent incidences cannot and will never be tolerated in the 21st century and especially after the country ushered in a new Constitution dispensation that provides suitable and credible avenues where Kenyans can air their grievances.
For instance, the new law, which the Ndhiwa constituents overwhelmingly voted in for, brought itself with an impartial, free and efficient judicial system that offers Kenyans the essential remedy in the event of an electoral dispute. This is the venue the Ndhiwa constituents should have pursued and not violence.
When electorates resort to violence to solve election related malpractices, the consequences are dreary, case in point the disputed 2007 presidential elections that led to the death of 1000 people and approximately more than half a million others internally displaced.
Just like Prime Minister Raila Odinga who doubles up as ODM party leader said in his message on the county forums on peaceful elections: “Elections are very instrumental in a democratic process as they provide a legitimate forum for citizens of a country to set the national agenda and put in place leadership that can execute their socio-economic and political aspirations and interests.”
So Ndhiwa constituents should understand that elections are an opportunity for individuals to practice their democratic right for their own well being and not an opportunity for hooligans to showcase their violence prowess.
