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Contestants must tone down on language at rallies

Sunday, April 3rd, 2022 22:57 | By
Deputy President William Ruto and ANC Party leader Musalia Mudavadi at a past political rally PHOTO/Courtesy

There are four months left to the General Election. Consequently, political activity will only become more frantic. Nominations are due, and they are normally a life and death affair especially in the strongholds of political parties, given that the ticket from such a party is as good as giving one the seat. After the nominations will come the countrywide campaigns, as party candidates seek votes to clinch seats.

Inevitably, temperatures will rise to fever pitch. Rhetoric will become more strident, and panic will set in across the board. It is in the midst of such heat that political players are wont to do some dangerous things.

That is why it behoves the key leaders in the country to do all in their power to tone down the growing intolerance now rearing its ugly head. The growing scale of violence being witnessed, and the increasingly incendiary rhetoric being spewed over the airwaves is getting to dangerous levels.

The primary responsibility for keeping their supporters in check are the key leaders at the apex- President Uhuru Kenyatta, deputy president, William Ruto, and former premier, Raila Odinga. What they say, or not say, and do, sends critical signals to their supporters. That is why Ruto’s apology to Raila after the stoning incident in Uasin Gishu, and his rejection of violence was such an important statement.

All leaders must do this with their supporters as long as the electioneering period is ongoing. No ifs or buts or whatabouts!

Police have an outsized role in maintenance of peace during this period. It is absolutely critical that the Police are seen as evenhanded and impartial. That is why Interior Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiangi’s call to civil servants not to take sides in the 2022 political tussle is very important. Dr Matiangi urged civil servants to stay neutral since they are supposed to serve each and every Kenyan equally.

The media in the country has always operated under a cloud during elections. It needs to be very careful. While nothing stops any media apart from the state-owned KBC from supporting particular candidates, their providing a platform to be used as a launching pad for ethnic-baiting and inciting statements against particular candidates or communities must be a no no.

The lessons of the Rwanda genocide where a radio station was used to incite and direct massacres of thousands of civilians are still fresh. The Kenyan media, which played a very disgraceful role in the deadly postelection violence of 2007/08 has never faced accountability for its actions. It’s doubtful that it has learnt anything going by its current reportage.

The media has a major role in dumbing down escalation of temperatures. The Media Owners Association (MOA) must do everything in its powers to keep its members on a short leash. Don’t burn the country.

Of course, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) must do all in its power to deliver a free, fair, credible and verifiable election. Let it not be the excuse that losing politicians will be using to cause mayhem. IEBC chairman, Wafula Chebukati, has already been through baptism of fire in the 2017 election, and the lessons from that should enable him give Kenyans what is needed.

Finally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) needs to stay very actively engaged in Kenya. By now, they should be having a full team in the country fanning across the countryside  documenting the utterances of political leaders, especially those with the greatest influence on voters, and those with a history of loose tongues.

Unfortunately in Africa, politicians long gave up self-discipline and love for country. They only respond to the threat of loss of freedom and the privileges they enjoy at the expense of their citizens.

All political players must be ready to let the country move on after the elections, even if the result goes against their expectations. Nobody was born to be president. Let the people decide!

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