Is CORD setting stage for rejection of polls?

The political season is here again. As always, Raila Odinga is at the centre of it.

His antics are keeping the entire nation on edge. International media is having a field day, religiously covering the protests and giving the impression that Kenya is burning.

I must admit that protests and demonstrations contributed greatly to Kenya's democratisation process in the 80s and 90s. We owe the freedoms we enjoy today to the gallant soldiers of the democratic struggle, among them Raila.

Under Kanu's dictatorial single party rule, street protests provided the best avenue of expressing displeasure and putting pressure on the all-powerful President to listen to alternative voices.

President Daniel Moi's ruthless administration did not entertain alternative opinion. Both Parliament and the Judiciary were under tight control of the Executive. The idea of three arms of Government existed only on paper.

The agitation of those years had a goal — to democratise our governance, put citizens at the centre of decision making and spur development in all parts of the country.

In 2010, after years of struggle, we promulgated a progressive Constitution that puts citizens at the centre of governance through their elected representatives in the National Assembly, Senate, county assemblies and the Presidency.

Under the new arrangement, Parliament and Judiciary are independent of Executive control and every citizen who feels aggrieved by the way he is governed can directly petition Parliament or the Judiciary.

That we have gone back to the streets in 2016 is a painful reminder that we marched gallantly to a desired future only to scamper backwards to an awful past.

That Raila is at the centre of the protests nearly three decades later is an indication that some among the warriors of second liberation had an entirely different agenda. It is an agenda that has got little to do with the good of the nation and the progress of its citizens.

Regarding the current IEBC stalemate, Raila and his CORD brigade should follow the laid down process of removing IEBC commissioners. That is democracy.

Whereas picketing is allowed in the Constitution, the results have always been disruptive of normal business and have led to tears, blood and loss of lives.

This, certainly, is not the way to greatness. It is the way to destruction. It is accepting mediocrity as a way of life.