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Uphold peace after results declaration

Monday, August 15th, 2022 05:16 | By
Vote tallying at Bomas of Kenya. PHOTO/Courtesy
Vote tallying at Bomas of Kenya. PHOTO/Courtesy

Today and tomorrow are set to be important days in Kenya’s history as they will mark the end of the electoral cycle. What happens in these two days will have a big impact on the fortunes of Kenya and Kenyans. That is why we take this opportunity to ask all Kenyans to uphold peace and where they differ politically, to use the legally provided channels to seek redress.

Kenyans’ patience has been tried and tested in the last one week as they waited for the announcement of the winner of the presidential election. The voting was peaceful. The waiting has been peaceful. Today, or latest tomorrow, the winner of the election will be announced.

Although this will attract different reactions — as winners celebrate and losers count their losses — we urge Kenyans from across the country to be peaceful and civil because the future of this country depends on how we manage the transition over the next few weeks.

Kenya has gone through a gruelling campaign period. It has not been an easy time for supporters of different political formations. All sides are hoping for a win, but only one candidate will emerge victorious. It is encouraging that political leaders at various levels have graciously conceded defeat. They have set a template that, ideally, should serve as a guide for all political players. Even those who have disagreed with the outcomes announced in their respective areas have indicated that they will be challenging the errors in courts of law.  By so doing, they have all provided much-needed leadership. Our next biggest task is to heal the wounds caused by the elections and bridge the rifts that have emerged in the recent past. This is a collective responsibility, and not just for political leaders but for all Kenyans of goodwill.

We must preach peace at every available opportunity and call for restraint even in the face of heated disagreements, which are investable after hotly contested elections such as we have had. We must all remember that we have a Kenya to build.

The Constitution has built robust institutions that have proven themselves to be custodians of law and justice. We urge all who will feel aggrieved by the outcomes of the elections to use these institutions to seek redress. Similarly, courts, especially, must act impartially and be seen to be delivering justice. Most importantly, the electoral commission must be seen to have carried out its mandate transparently.

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