Azimio must warn their followers to refrain from chaos
Although Article 37 of the Constitution gives every Kenyan the right to peaceably and unarmed assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions to public authorities, the same is not guaranteed when lives have to be lost and property destroyed.
Nonetheless, even before we discuss how to deal with the Azimio protests, we need to ask ourselves the genesis of all the political quagmire which is out to paralyse the nation.
Former Prime Minister and Azimio leader Raila Odinga and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta seemed convinced President William Ruto would not be elected president during last year’s elections. They even went ahead to sell us fears that they will not hand over only for their plans to be thwarted by the electorate.
Therefore, what we are currently facing is a result of Azimio leadership failing to obey the Supreme Court ruling that upheld Ruto’s victory, which they said they will respect hence have resorted to applying Article 37 selectively.
In democratic systems, it is crucial for all parties to respect the rule of law and decisions of the Judiciary, including accepting election results. After the 2022 General Election, Raila went to the Supreme Court to change Ruto’s victory but the court pronounced itself on the matter, upholding the results announced by the electoral agency, meaning William Ruto won fairly hence Opposition should agree with the outcome instead of going to the streets.
It is eight months since the President took the realms of power hence not enough time for meaningful development. It is only fair for Raila-led group to give the Head of State time to deliver to Kenyans instead of arm-twisting and intimidating him to arrest the high cost of living which is as a result of their mess during the Handshake regime.
Handshake regime which Raila was part of is actually to blame for the current economic woes and high cost of living Ruto is currently addressing with various austerity measures put in place. The effects of economic recovery interventions is likely to take time and therefore, the Azimio team needs to give the government ample time to turn around the economy instead of engaging in violence.
Unfortunately, Raila’s political path is always characterised by changing goal posts of which even if prices of commodities come down today, he will start delegitimising the Kenya Kwanza administration. Let him not use the high cost of living as a scapegoat for his political interests while destroying people’s property.
To foster a healthy political environment, it is important for Azimio to refrain from inciting their supporters to cause violence, destruction of property, or any actions that may destabilise the country.
Azimio team should embrace dialogue through bipartisan talks which had been established with the blessings of Ruto. When you participate in an election and lose, you allow those elected to serve because Kenyans need service delivery. This is what Raila needs to emulate by giving the Kenya Kwanza administration enough time to work and fulfill the government agenda.
As a country, we should only encourage political discourse geared towards sharing ideas on how best to develop our motherland but not one whose purpose is to allow a person who lost an election to have a share of government because it will set a trait whereby in future, if you want to be accommodated in a government, you go to the streets and cause mayhem to force yourself into the government.
Raila should withdraw protest calls and allow Ruto to work. I ask our people to reject violence and seek peaceful solutions to grievances.
— The writer,Johnson Muthama, is a commissioner of the Parliamentary Service Commission
