Kenyans, please vote wisely – we are brothers and sisters

Kenyans are a forgetful lot, very difficult to learn from past experience and who have failed to turn around their losses into opportunities in securing their political futures.

Many a time, the country has faced violence, hatred and intolerance over divergent political stands in past elections and if not dealt with care, this year’s General Elections on August 8 may plunge the country into anarchy.

With less than three weeks to the polls, there has been clear lack of interest from Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), politicians and civil society to carry out civic and voter education, especially to young voters who may be involved in the exercise for the first time.

Kenyans have allowed the politicians to divide them on tribal lines. On August 8, Kenyans will not wake up to go and vote for NASA or Jubilee. It is not about voting for Raila or Uhuru. Instead, the people must arise to make sure they cast their ballot in the August polls for the future of their children, who need health, hope, quality and affordable education.

We are brothers and sisters sharing common ancestry. Let us be peaceful and orderly in doing our constitutional obligation by voting in leaders of integrity. Tension is high in our homes, estates, schools and streets. Corruption is taking root in our society. Vote hunting should be about policies not dispensing looted public money. Voters should not choose lies over truth and small handouts over long lasting solutions to society’s problems.

Kenyans must summon patriotism from the depths of our heart looks at the politicians on the ballot and review them based on their deliverables.

That is why this election should be about the future of Kenyans. Have food security so that no Kenyan can die of hunger again. Vote for unity to ensure every part of this country receives the National cake. An attempt to steer it into the murky waters of ethnicity must be rejected by Kenyans of good will.

Our campaigns should never be based on ethnicity, religion or class.

Such divisions are the reasons hindering Kenya from achieving a double-digit economic growth rate. There is also the need to put our leaders in check by eliminating corruption, cut waste and create a million new jobs every year to accommodate the over 800,000 youths churned out from our higher education institutions annually.

In doing so, there will be more modern Standard Gauge Railway projects to do and thousands of kilometers of tarmacked roads that will open up the country to bigger markets and make most people are self-reliant.

 It is a choice we are supposed to make in choosing Jubilee or NASA during the August 8 General Elections.