Leaders must respect authority, obey laws

The post-election violence of 2008 was a dark chapter in Kenya’s history.

But it seems some leaders have forgotten what the country went through, as a result of the disputed presidential election results.

In the words of Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere, violence may recur during the next General Election if leaders continue to defy authority and disobey the law.

Mr Iteere, speaking on Friday, said leaders have resorted to outright defiance of authority and non-adherence to the law.

He said competition is the source of conflict, and, as we head to elections, politicians face the biggest competition and this may cause violence if the law is not followed.

It is worrying that the very same people who should be taking the lead in ensuring peace prevails have been holding public meetings and attending gatherings where they carelessly make utterances that fuel tensions.

Politicians must understand that their followers take a cue from their actions and utterances, and must therefore exercise a high degree of maturity, as they criss-cross the country seeking to win support.

Political maturity must begin with the respect of the laws of the land and, as we all know, a breakdown of law and order is a perfect recipe for chaos.

The law is very clear on how politicians must behave, especially in an election season.

These laws must be respected and the police should not hesitate to take action on lawbreakers.