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Raila-Ruto: Is Kenya sinking during its Age of Reason?

The path of promise is often overcast with uncertainty. Charles Dickens (1812-1870) recognised that the summer of hope is often tied up in a double-knot with the winter of despair.

Kenya's profound democratic happenings herald, at once, hope and risk. Dickens wrote of the European Industrial Revolution (1760-1840), in A Tale of Two Cities, as 'the best of times and the worst of times.'

Like Europe in that age, Kenya is concurrently on the brink of wisdom and on the ledge of inanity, courtesy of our own Age of Reason. The ended elections show we have everything before us. Yet, do we probably have nothing before us?

One of the losers in the presidential poll is seeking redress before the Supreme Court. This represents hope, not just for him but for the whole nation. His is a quest for justice.

It is a sign of our Age of Reason, distinct from the infernos and raw brutality of yesteryears. But there are also worrying trends that suggest we could be going direct to hell, even as we think we are headed to paradise.

What are the facts? Mr Raila Odinga and his Azimio team descended upon the courts with a truckload of evidence that they hope will overturn the election of Dr William Ruto as Kenya's fifth president. The sheer volume of evidence is promissory. They could just shew the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for what they say it is - a den of liars at the behest of the boss, Wafula Chebukati.

The decision to challenge the election in court is a celebration of Kenya's civil liberties and freedoms.

The converse is the brusque and beefy style. They descended on the court in a frightful manner, regardless of whether it was intended or not. Perhaps it was only intended as an innocent show of the mighty support the ODM leader enjoys?

But could there be any doubt that Mr Odinga enjoys massive support across the country? Only a stranger in our Jerusalem could habour such doubts.

Accordingly, the show of might was unnecessary. It was especially needless because of the potential to attract similar behaviour by rivals.

Should Dr Ruto's side behave the same way, we can only expect more might from Azimio, and the start of showing off of brutal numbers at the Supreme Court. The poison in the chalice is disruption of the work of civilised forums.

We saw that at the Bomas of Kenya. Busy bodies, some with crude clubs disguised as traditional attire, interrupted presidential vote tallying activities. This will, hopefully, not happen at the Supreme Court.

Those who seek justice before courts should exercise decorum and self-restraint. They cannot, in common decency, seek vindication while also appearing to intimidate the courts, through people who can only be described as mobsters.

Nor can they gallivant across the country pronouncing, before charged throngs, edicts of what they will accept from the courts and what they won't. Litigants shouldn't morph into bullies, who place everyone else's lives in suspense.

By the same token, the Kenya Kwanza team would do well to exercise similar restraint demanded of Mr Odinga, his ODM party and Azimio. They must resist temptation to show off their own crowds.

Dr Ruto, especially, must look presidential. He will take away critical marks, in the court of public opinion if crowds, in his name, turn up at the Milimani courts, to cheer and jeer.

The President-elect must of necessity, ask his people to allow the legal team take care of their interests.

But, both Mr Odinga and Dr Ruto must tame the loose cannon balls in their ranks. It is particularly bad when the loose balls and sundry hecklers are elements from the innermost sanctums of their think tanks.

Simply put, it is a shame. For, when your matter is before the courts, it is in safe hands. The decent thing is to give the courts some benefit of doubt. You come across as a bad bully if you continue prosecuting the matter elsewhere and sounding edicts. Such behaviour leads us to wonder whether we are in the spring of hope, or the winter of despair.

Dr Muluka is a strategic communications advisor. www.barrackmuluka.co.ke