Leaders must stop brinkmanship, embrace dialogue
The escalation of the protests called by the Opposition over the cost of living into an orgy of violence is worrying.
The protests have the hallmark of the start of a dangerous trajectory as they could morph into a cataclysmic phenomenon of unimaginable magnitude.
What started as legitimate democratic expression four months ago, over the outcome of the August 2022 presidential election, has turned into violent demonstrations that have claimed lives, left unimaginable destruction of property, destroyed livelihoods and caused anxiety and trauma.
This genie of violence has embedded itself in our political DNA and rears its ugly head during every election cycle.
Unfortunately, our politics are often fiercely competitive, personality and ethnic-based and bereft of ideology. Ordinary citizens are just pawns in high-stakes political contestation.
The shortcomings in the electoral system have been at great socio-economic and political cost to the country.
The disputed 2007 presidential election that sparked the post-election violence, which pushed the country on the brink, should always be a stark reminder of the perils of brinkmanship.
It took the intervention of outsiders to save ourselves and our country. In 2013 and 2017, the same happened with a similar script, but sobriety prevailed.
I have watched with great concern the ongoing cycle of violence as it takes a dangerous turn with hardening political stands by the political elite, both in government and the Opposition. We have to sober up and confront the reality and direness of our actions.
I urge the Raila Odinga-led Opposition to call off the protests and bring back his troops to the dialogue table to address the issues instead of raising them in the streets.
It is ironic to premise protests on the push for a lower of cost living while undermining all efforts to revive the debt-burdened economy and destroying businesses.
The Opposition should accept that President William Ruto won the closely-fought election. Just like a contested goal scored in soccer becomes a fait accompli once the referee has adjudged it as one, let the 2022 poll outcome be.
Any reviews on the game are done after the acceptance of result to improve the officiating of the game for a future fair and just play. We, too, have an opportunity to address the grievances and close the gaps in the electoral system.
The calls to remove Ruto from office through other means other than the ballot is a recipe for anarchy and chaos that will be too dire to handle. My wise counsel to those nursing such dreams and ambitions is to perish the thought.
Finally, I urge President Ruto and Opposition leader Raila to rally other stakeholders like the religious organisations and civil society in efforts to ensure a politically stable country.
Our traumatised, anguished motherland is crying to us! Let’s embrace dialogue to silence the drums of war and urge for immolation for her sake and future generations.
—The writer is former Football Kenya Federation president
