Dialogue is the way to go in resolving conflicts in Kenya

NAIROBI: It was with a sigh of relief that we have finally unlocked the stalemate over the constitution of the electoral commission. The anxiety gradually building up over the stalemate was understandable given that the elections are barely a year away.

It is therefore encouraging that we have finally reached a consensus on most sticking points that were breeding suspicion and mistrust.

The success we have attained so far as we seek to reform the electoral system is largely borne of the goodwill and patriotism that prevailed on both sides of the divide. Both Jubilee and CORD MPs in the select committee exhibited a high level of maturity and sobriety.

Special mention goes to Kiraitu Murungi and James Orengo for admirable leadership skills as they chaperoned the talks. This is the avenue that we should always pursue as we seek to smoothly iron out our differences.

Jubilee has always wanted the best for this country. We want democracy to always prevail and institutions that we have put in place used to address any challenges that we confront. This is how a civilised country deals with any contentious issues. I also believe CORD is keen on promoting the rights of all Kenyans and in fashioning a country where the common man has a say on how public affairs are conducted.

At the end of the day we are interested in the same end; having a better country governed by the rule of law and in which democracy prevails. When we sat down to talk it dawned on us that we are after the same objective of ensuring that the 2017 polls are free and fair. There are substantial gains from an unequivocally democratic process; a ruling party whose electoral mandate is clear will focus on implementing its manifesto as it will not be distracted by sideshows related to disputed polls. Also, an opposition which feels its victory was stolen will always sulk and thus fail to carry out its mandate of keeping the government on toes. In such a situation we are all losers as development will get bogged down by flimsy issues.

Initially it was thought Jubilee was out to protect the current commissioners at all costs. We had even been accused of entering into an insidious pact with the team to rig the elections in favour of Jubilee. Now that we have demonstrated total commitment to electoral reforms that will help in refining our democracy, all these claims are now turning out to be preposterous lies. Jubilee only dug in to safeguard the integrity of the institutions that we have assiduously built and which form the basis of a progressive society. We knew from when agitation for electoral started that the issues raised by the opposition could be adequately dealt with through the mechanisms created by the Constitution.

But perhaps the most important lesson that we have learnt is that there is no dispute that is too big to be addressed through dialogue. Whenever we confront any national challenges that have the potential to divide Kenyans and breach peace and harmony, we must always give dialogue a chance. It is futile to resort to easy but repugnant options such as violent street protests. Talks always have a solution to every stalemate and misunderstanding. As it is said, violence only provokes more violence.

Whenever warring parties sit at a table, it invariably emerges that the things that separate them are far less than what unite them. This is the case with the positions of Jubilee and CORD on the electoral reforms. We all want a united country that upholds democratic ideals. No fight for political office should be so vicious as to blind us to these grand objectives.

The political rapprochement we have struck regarding how to proceed in reforming election rules ought to set the pace on how future disagreements will be resolved. Indeed we should make dialogue our culture by embedding it in our dispute-resolution mechanisms. This way we will have a sustained unity and a country respected by the community of global nations.

The violent protests by CORD did not help resolve anything but resulted in huge losses to businesses. National harmony was also severely tested as the protests threatened to degenerate into widespread turmoil. This is not what we want for our country. We are already grappling with a myriad challenges such as unemployment and we would complicate matters when we prefer violence to dialogue in resolving our issues.