Yes, peace must be secured before push for justice after polls

In the wake of 2017 post-election upheavals in parts of Nairobi and Kisumu, many have questioned whether the persistent call to peace is at the expense of justice. This critique has centered on questions of use of power, conduct of the elections, and the shocking levels of police brutality, killings and destruction of property in the name of maintaining peace and security.

During the election process, we have seen a section of Kenyans who have persistently used the word “peace”— to mean avoidance of any form of overt confrontation. But this distorted notion of peace that supports political interests does not encourage recognition of the use of confrontation in pursuit of justice, which is the basis for real peace. On the other hand, we have a section of Kenyans up in arms demanding justice, and promising “no justice no peace” seemingly oblivious to the fact that peace needs to be secured before justice can be decided upon and carried out.