In the past week, we have witnessed a series of violence transpiring during the political nominations. The political parties conducting their nominations this week should be prepared as we expect what has transpired to increase. The aspirants who eye hotly contested seats for the 2017 elections are causing chaos which has resulted to injuries to the common mwananchi.
In many cases, the youth have had a face off throwing stones at each other just to show the support a political aspirant commands. Voters who had gone for the primaries peacefully are left with bruises and injuries just even before the nominations are completed or results released.
This round of party primaries have left some voters hospitalised due to the violence created. The political parties should be more cautious in the remaining nomination primaries. They should not let politicians breach democracy and practice violence and demolition during their primaries. The voters participating in the party primaries should expect the worst because the remaining nomination processes are not predictable to be peaceful.
That has happened and as more party nominations are upcoming we expect difficulties in conducting them. The earlier nominations have been described as dishonest and unfair and we expect the remaining ones to face the same situation. This will only mean more violence and more victims.
Political aspirants should care for the security of the common mwananchi who comes out as a voter. Kenyans do not have the hired security that usually surrounds the political leaders such that when chaos erupts they are shielded leaving the supporters to the apathy of violence. The political parties are also mandated with the responsibility of conducting peaceful and credible elections. They should be able to secure their polling stations in preparedness for the remaining nominations.
The youth should detach themselves from being used by political leaders for their own self- interest. In many of the cases leaders and political aspirants pay up the youth to disrupt the nomination causing chaos. Those running for hotly contested seats should not use their popularity and fame to cause chaos if defeated.