Deal with IEBC impasse to avert more violence

Two recent happenings in the country have left Kenyans worried.

First, the Opposition's anti-IEBC demonstrations in Kisumu were characterised by ugly scenes of violence that left in its wake a trail of destruction of property, loss of lives and injuries to innocent Kenyans.

Second, CORD Principal Raila Odinga's presence in Nakuru on Saturday nearly turned violent as the local Jubilee youths tried to storm a hotel he was holed in in a meeting with supporters. The rowdy youths were led by MP Kimani Ngunjiri.

The two incidents are worrying and bad to our economy. In the run-up to the 2007 General Election and the subsequent post-poll violence, the country was so polarised that people who had lived together for years turned against each other.

Sadly we are taking that route again. The anti-IEBC demos are increasingly dividing Kenyans along tribal and political lines. So bad is the situation that in Kisumu, CORD youths attacked businesses owned by Kenyans deemed to support the Jubilee coalition.

In retaliation, a hotel in Nakuru where Raila was meeting his supporters was attacked by hired goons. It is rumoured that the hotel is owned by an ODM politician from Migori County.

In a nutshell these seemingly small incidents are true precursors of civil strife.