Azimio, Kenya Kwanza contest exposes deceit to electoral laws

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula arrives for Parliament sitting after recess in Nairobi, on February 11, 2025. [Elvis Ogina,Standard]

Political power is undeniably captivating. It offers fame, popularity and immense personal wealth that often become the chief aim for many political aspirants.

Elections are often exploited as personal enrichment, with candidates and their backers more focused on amassing power than serving interests of citizens. This relentless emphasis on material gain transforms the democratic process into a spectacle of chaos — characterised by violent clashes, property destruction, and rampant corruption— where political contests become battlegrounds for narrow interests rather than platforms for national development.

In such an environment, the noble responsibilities of leadership are sacrificed on the altar of personal ambition, diverting critical attention from the nation’s pressing needs and eroding public trust in democratic institutions. The dark legacy of the 2007 post-election violence serves as a grim reminder of how legal frameworks have been distorted to serve political ends rather than uphold justice and order. Last week’s court ruling affirming the Azimio Coalition as the majority party in Parliament—based on the 2022 election outcome—not only challenges entrenched power structures but also reaffirms that this manipulation of the law is far from a relic of the past. This ruling clearly demonstrates that the Judiciary, committed to upholding constitutional principles, stands as a bastion of the rule of law amid a political environment rife with manipulation. By adhering strictly to legal tenets rather than succumbing to partisan pressures, the courts have reaffirmed their independence and the supremacy of law in matters of state. The decision sends a potent message to those who have historically contorted legal norms to secure power: the law must prevail over political expediency.