Opinion: Is IEBC taking Kenya to the ballot or bullets on October 26?

There is a great dilemma on whether there will be an election or not, pitting the ordinary Kenyans against each other based on which side they think might favour their political interest. The crucial result is pointing to that of extreme fear. So whether the current stalemate will end yet again in an acrimonious blame game or not, remains a cause for concern.

But what is certain is the urgent need to get Kenya back on track. Kenya needs to move on, hence urgent solutions out of this quagmire - which is giving national dialogue a chance. Because the continued deadlock is bad for our health institutions, education, businesses and other important sectors of the economy seriously affected, thus leading to a potential deterrent to inward investment that are now heavily threatened to a halt.

This is a great concern to the peace actors as it is to the politicians. In our discussion with Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC) -- without participation of Jubilee and NASA brigades and other Civil Society Organisations (CSO)s peace actors during the month -- a great concern emerged that Kenyans would prefer fantasising when it comes to political realities.

That’s why we would easily say that we have been peaceful, while it is conspicuously evident that we are not. Likewise, some sections of the public would chose to be silent and wait for the outcomes.

I choose to submit that our country has been going through this long term trauma of elections. The citizens have been continuously treated to streaming exchange of hatred, anger and partial truths by the political elite. This is just but the indicator of how much premium we attach to the national stake in the context of “our time to eat” as observed by John Githongo during his tenure at the anti-corruption body.

To normalise the otherwise untenable and selfish political positions, so many interpretations of the law (and court rulings), have been fronted by the political divide, since the Supreme Court nullification and consequent order for fresh presidential election. Each party, of course, tends to justify their side to their respective support base.  This is where, I think, we are going wrong as a country, regarding the space for the independence of the electoral body to undertake the fresh elections as ordered by the court.

 Political Actors must give a chance to the citizens to own the country before they seek to lead them. They must not chose themselves and then call on their supporters to ratify through the ballot. If I may quote one of the voices of reason that brought normalcy in Ghana, I re-state that “winning elections into public office is not a desperate task, nor is it winning power by any means necessary. It is not about smear campaigning, character assassination or inciting one group, tribe and religion against another just to score cheap political points. It is not about using hate speech or indecent language. But it is a contest of ideas, battle of winning majority votes of the hearts and minds of the people, the selling of feasible policies and programmes for bettering the lives of the electorate” Michelle Fafa Agbenorto, in Ghana 2016.

For this level of sanity to prevail so that Kenyans get their rightful voice counted in the ballot, IEBC must seize the moment to correct the gaps as identified by the Supreme Court, and stop living in denial.

It is the right time the electoral body makes a decisive choice to make Kenya burn or remain peaceful. It is through the commissions and omissions of the electoral body that stand to send this country to oblivion. The public will not know what it is going through unless IEBC speaks out.

If the public are not privy to their processes, then perceptions will prevail even where the best of decisions are made but not explained. Credibility and the peaceful environment are key strands for the electoral process to be seen as providing justice to the citizens.

In clear certainty, proceeding to the elections with a disputed level preparation may point to the legitimacy and integrity of any outcome of that very process.

The uncertainty crowding the planned elections scheduled for next week is a major worry. IEBC must be clear in their conscience whether the planned ballot will be free of flying bullets in some constituencies.

The peace actors and the international community, who are the key development partners of Kenya, can only support efforts to make Kenyans remain calm, tolerant, resilient and consequently safe. This includes efforts for mediation, which should take a local framework. Such efforts are only likely to work if politicians are willing to listen and dialogue for the benefit of the citizens, otherwise external pressure is inevitable.

The big question now remains as to whether we are going to an election which is free, credible, and peaceful or merely subjecting the citizens and the security agencies into ballot and bullets process. We must all aim to protect Kenya at all cost by saving lives as we make political decision. The answers to the dilemma remains with IEBC versus the general public.

As things stand, we are raising risk premia and leading businesses and individuals to delay spending and investment waiting for the unfolding crises to be resolved. It is the reason I suggest that all political or religious elite begin to dialogue with a view to reaching an amicable agreement or peaceful settlement.

— The writer is the CEO, Peace Net Kenya.