At a time like this last year, there was palpable anxiety over the election results. Emboldened by the advantage of incumbency, Azimio continued to exude confidence although, the results from the electoral agency's public portal were indicated the contrary.
A year later, we have not entirely moved on from that election. The side that lost has attempted to employ every trick in the book to delegitimise the one that won. But just like you cannot block the sun's rays with your palm, it has been difficult to deny the obvious. President William Ruto earned his mandate legitimately.
The resultant presidential election petition proved to be an afterthought that was also badly executed. I hope we all remember the 'lorry-load of evidence' as the petition was being filed. At the risk of going ahead of myself, let me say this, Baba, in 2022, should have gone to the Supreme Court only as a respondent.
This is not to discount his right to institute court proceedings by dint of Article 22, but after 2007 that ended up in a post-election armistice dubbed the National Accord, 2013 that ended in stillbirth and 2017 that ended in some game theory-induced self-preservation called Handshake, another cry of foul play was going to boomerang in 2002 unless it was extremely merited. The question is, was it?
After the Supreme Court determination, the political manoeuvres proved less than helpful. Claims that there was a whistleblower, followed by allegations of having ethical hackers did not stand up to scrutiny. The haste with which those two positions were quickly abandoned was amazing. It pointed to a post-election political strategy that was standing on stilts; that could not withstand the weight of scrutiny. The lack of consistency in the Azimio effort to justify the electoral loss and apportion blame exposed its soft underbelly.
Raila's supporters must admit that they did not do a proper 'get out the vote' on the polling day. There was complacency among many Azimio fanatics and the deep state illusion became a poisoned chalice rather than a boon to the coalition. It teaches us all that an election is decided by those who turn up. It underscores the important fact that however popular a candidate is, if you do not translate that popularity into votes cast, then whatever you do is no less different from a pop star show.
However, there are simmering questions that Azimio leadership must answer to pacify their support base and bring closure. Did Azimio deploy agents in all polling stations to protect their win if indeed they won? If yes, why were so many form 34As without the signature of Azimio agents? If not, what could justify the coalition's failure to recruit agents in such a consequential election? It is imperative to remind candidates of the equity maxim that the law aids the diligent, not the indolent. If Azimio lost due to indolence within their ranks, then they must apologise to their supporters.
The presidency should not be an end in itself. As the dialogue team sits to sort out the post-election political fallout, I beseech the president to intensify private conversations with Baba because we would all love to see him playing a role in advancing the legacy of democracy and the rule of law that brought them together in 2007.
It defeats our comprehension how two fine gentlemen who in a different era would have made a fine president and prime minister in the same administration can remain obstinate about political differences. They should and must invest their goodwill into the dialogue process so that we may have a governance system and practice that is not steeped in blinding political hatred.
A year after the polls, coming together to root out chronic and persistent poverty while building inclusive economies at the grassroots is an imperative. So many families are in deep economic pain. For their sake, let sanity prevail so that we get back to the important task of nation building.
-Mr Kidi is the convenor, Inter Parties Youth Forum. kidimwaga@gmail.com
