The escalation of ongoing demonstrations into an orgy of violence over the cost of living is worrying. The Opposition-led protests signal the start of a dangerous trajectory for our stability and democracy as they could morph into a cataclysmic phenomenon of unimaginable magnitude.
What started as legitimate political and democratic expression four months ago over the outcome of the August 2022 pPresidential contest and a plethora of shifting political grievances has now claimed lives, led to destruction of property, destroyed livelihoods and caused anxiety and trauma.
This genie of violence has embedded itself in our political DNA and continues to rear its ugly head after every election cycle. Unfortunately, our politics are often fiercely competitive, personality and ethnic-based and bereft of ideology. The ordinary citizens are just pawns in a high-stakes political contestation with unchanging protagonists. The shortcomings in our evolving electoral system in a fragile democracy cannot be gainsaid and this has been at great socio-economic and political cost to the country.
That the disputed 2007 presidential election sparked off the post-election violence, putting the country on the brink of collapse should always be a stark reminder of the perils of brinkmanship-and even tempting fate. It took the intervention of outsiders to save ourselves and our country. In 2013 and 2017, the same happened with a similar script, but sobriety prevailed. As a senior citizen, I have watched with great concern the ongoing cycle of political violence as it takes a dangerous turn with hardening political stands and grandstanding by the political elite, both Opposition and government. This does not bode well for our country.
We have to sober up and confront the reality and the seriousness of our actions. I urge the Raila Odinga-led opposition to call off the protests and embrace dialogue to address the issues affecting us. It is ironic to premise protests on the push for a lower of cost living while undermining all efforts by the government to revive the economy by destroying businesses in the name of legitimate democratic actions.
The opposition should accept that President William Ruto won the election. The win, declared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, was validated by the Supreme Court. Our democracy demands we respect that, however unpalatable it is.
A contested goal scored in soccer becomes fait accompli once the referee has adjudged it as one. Let the 2022 poll outcome be. Any reviews on the game are done after the acceptance of result to improve the officiating of the game for a future fair and just play. We, too, have an opportunity to address the grievances and close the gaps in the electoral system at the now stalled dialogue.The calls to remove Dr Ruto from office through means other than the ballot are a recipe for anarchy and chaos. And my counsel to those nursing such dreams and ambitions is to perish the thought.
I also call upon former President Uhuru Kenyatta to eschew any push or persuasion to be drawn into the ongoing political contestation. He should give his successor all the support he needs to ensure political stability and economic revival. Uhuru got the same support from his predecessor, President Mwai Kibaki.
It would be unfortunate to soil a culture cultivated by President Daniel aArap Moi, who not only peacefully handed over to Kibaki, but gave him the space and support to govern. Finally, I urged President Ruto and Raila to rally other stakeholders the religious organisations, civil society and senior citizens in an effort to ensure a politically stable country that can hold a democratic candle to other African States.