There is every reason to blame Parliament for IEBC protests

After the 2007 post-election violence, our leaders pledged that ‘never again’ should Kenyans die because of politics. A few years later, it appears no lessons have been learnt. The political rhetoric is on a pretty high decibel, and innocent Kenyans are beginning to die for the same reasons. As always, tolerance levels on the two sides of the political divide are declining fast, as we inch closer to the elections. The lives lost so far have raised little concern, overshadowed by incendiary ethnic overtones by politicians on both sides.

CORD leaders know pretty well that ejecting IEBC team from their offices is a zero-sum game but are determined to express their displeasure nonetheless. A protest outside Parliament would have served them better if their aim is to force the government into dialogue. Parliament has failed to provide leadership on the matter, an excuse CORD has grabbed. In 2014, activist Wafula Buke brought a petition against the commission, seeking its dissolution but Parliament rejected it in a partisan debate. Earlier this year, PAC cited the loss of billions of shillings at IEBC, and recommended prosecution of its officials, and reconstitution of the commission.