We will have peaceful polls if we embrace spirit of Ubuntu

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati inspects the first batch of ballot papers. [File, Standard]

I am because we are. That is the spirit of Ubuntu, the African philosophy that ‘emphasises being self through others’.

The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu summarised Ubuntu as a belief that ‘a person is person through other persons, that my humanity is caught up, bound up, inextricably, with yours’. The philosophy advocates for, among other values, dignity, respect, social justice, humaneness, sharing and co-responsibility.

Reflecting on this philosophy, I think it is the greatest, most humane way to go through life. As we wind up on the political campaigns and look forward to elections day on August 9, and most importantly the days after, let us embrace the spirit of Ubuntu.

We have had enough experience with post-election chaos and by now we should know that none of us can survive totally independent of our neighbours, whether at the household or community level. When the country was plunged into chaos after the 2007 elections, none of us, even those in areas then perceived as peaceful, was totally at ease. We all lived with the anxiety of not knowing what turn the chaos would take.

Political leaders especially, need to know and appreciate the fact that they are, because every Kenyan is. That they do not exist in a vacuum and therefore, cannot assume that they can lead a warring, disjointed community. Each political leader needs to recognise the strong nexus between peace and unity at community and national levels, and their ability to exercise their leadership skills.

If we embrace the philosophy of Ubuntu, professional journalists will cover political events with the interests of the community and country at heart. They will appreciate that any acts that dehumanise any one of us, inexorably dehumanises them. They will consider the potential of pictures and words to strip other people of their dignity and respect.

News and other stories will be framed in a manner to ultimately lead to consensus and eventual nation-building post-elections. They will use their power to advocate for legally-recognised means of conflict resolution in cases where election results are contested, and sensitise the public on the importance of upholding peace, before, during and after August 9. Media owners will not allow their own commercial interests to cloud their judgment of what is right, moral and ethical.

Social media users will restrain themselves from spreading hate speech and other content that could fuel an ethno-political crisis. Regardless of who our preferred candidate is and whether or not we perceive their performance at the elections as well deserved, we will choose to remain calm as we seek solutions. We will choose the established legal means to seek justice and address perceived or real political injustices.

Ubuntu as a philosophy advocates for individuals to see themselves in others. This is a great way to get us to empathise with each other and recognise how greatly intertwined each of our lives is with that of other people in our society. If we apply Ubuntu in our professional and personal lives during this electioneering period, we will minimise chances of post-election conflict.

-Dr Kalangi is a communications trainer and consultant, Kenyatta University