Handshake should be institutionalised to ensure lasting benefits

President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during their recent Nyanza tour.

The recent Kisumu trip by President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was a good political development.

It reinforced the March 9, 2018 handshake between Uhuru and Raila.

Yet for the handshake to produce lasting benefits, it must now be institutionalised. Kenya can benefit greatly in the long run if we use the handshake to create a new set of democratic traditions. We must now commit to behaving better - before, during and after elections. For then, not only will elections be less divisive, but they will also be less disruptive to the economy.

For starters, after results are announced, we must not insist on concessions from those who did not win. In a relatively close election, such insistence will only serve to humiliate them and their supporters. “Accept and move” on must now be replaced by “let us come together and bridge the divisions.”

It should now be clear that Kenya gains nothing when one side keeps rubbing salt in the wound of another after every election. What the country needs at that point is a handshake to signify that healing can begin – even as some contemplate moving to court.

Handshake tradition

This handshake tradition should not be limited to the candidates. Their chief lieutenants and their respective campaign teams should also embrace one another. For in many cases, it is hardliners from these camps who heighten political tension.

The public should also be roped in the handshake tradition. Co-workers on opposite political sides should also shake hands. The same goes for political commentators, the media, church goers, name them! All should embrace one another, leaving the hostilities of the election behind. These handshakes should signal that political contest is over, and that all must now start building bridges.

However, it is important to note that unhealthy political divisions are created. Toxic political divisions are not a naturally occurring phenomena. The climate of mistrust and hostility is the result of a deplorable electioneering culture. It is a culture where we commit all manner of wrong because we are so obsessed with winning. The desire to be on the winning side seems to obscure the moral imperative to be on the right side.

For long before campaigning starts, hateful rhetoric and vitriol begin defining political discourse. The political class leads the way by making statements that are not altogether wholesome. In some cases, they refer to their competitors in highly disparaging terms. Some even profile entire communities in ways that border on incitement to violence.  Indeed, in some cases, the language of war is used.

The public is not too far behind. Its discourse may be less publicised, but no less harmful. In some cases, ordinary Kenyans end up saying some very despicable things.  Some of these comments are propagated on the social and mainstream media.

Political conduct

These should not define our political conduct going forward. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) needs to step in and do more. It has a clear constitutional mandate which it is not discharging well. As polls approach, the NCIC should collaborate with law enforcement agencies, punishing all who engage in harmful messaging. In the case of candidates, the NCIC should work closely with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to bar from competition all those who violate the electoral code of conduct.

That said, we must realise that the handshake tradition only deals with the effects of divisive elections. It would, at best, return the country where it was before the heated campaigns started. It might not move it forward economically and politically. For that, we must address the underlying challenges that we face as a country through a people-centred development agenda.

Still, the handshake has provided Kenya with a great opportunity for nation-building. But we can only realise lasting benefits if it is moved from a unity deal between two people to a broader agreement between all Kenyans on acceptable electioneering culture.

Referendum proponents must avoid using the handshake to push Kenyans back to the polls prematurely. For if we do not change our electioneering culture first, holding a referendum will divide Kenyans again.

If we truly want to unite Kenya, we must use the goodwill from the handshake to change how Kenyans behave before, during and after elections.

Mr Karanja is a management consultant specialising in Strategy & Change management.