We have certainly turned polls into a ferocious national duel

Scanning various media platforms – mainstream and social – it is evident that Kenya is in a state of panic over the coming elections. An extreme sense of angst has gripped the hearts of many, with some serious negative impact.

The business community has reported a drastic slowdown in economic activity. Several prophecies do not seem to be making matters any better, especially with some predicting that rivers of blood will flow across the country.

State agencies responsible for security and national cohesion have equally marked some parts of the country as violence hot spots. Both mainstream and social media are under close scrutiny and users have been warned of dire consequences should they be found to be perpetuating or condoning hate messages.

Even individual text and WhatsApp messages are being monitored and administrators of such platforms have been warned that they will be held personally culpable should hate messages be posted on their forums.

Seriously speaking, are we preparing for war or for elections? We most certainly have turned elections into an unusual ferocious national duel. This is in total contrast to many of our neighbours who seem to go to the polls with little or no drama.

Ethiopia recently conducted its elections with no economic shutdown. Instead, the once dying nation has risen from the ashes and is poised to become Africa’s economic giant.

Likewise, Rwanda is to hold its elections on 4th August, but with no discernible battle lines. Instead, this tiny nation is focused on becoming Africa’s Singapore. Tanzania is equally rising right next door. Only Somalia can probably beat us in the general state of emergency during elections.

The big question is, why has our electoral process become a national crisis, literally shutting down our lives? A critical leadership principle might help explain this unusual national phenomenon. Phil Pringle, a leadership author, said, “As strong as the desire to lead might burn in the hearts of some men and women, the desire to be led burns even stronger in the hearts of all people. Leadership is a must when it comes to humanity.”

Entrench tribalism

The import of Pringle’s assertion is that human desire for leadership is as strong as thirst for water or hunger for food. Thus when, like unga, credible leadership is lacking, people become desperate.

Worse still, when people are faced with the prospect of ending up with less than trustworthy leaders, the angst is acutely heightened. It is the kind of anxiety that grips the heart when you get into a vehicle with an obviously drunk driver. All you can do is pray that God gets you safely to your destination. Well, that is what Kenyans have resorted to – prayer.

As a Pastor, I am solidly for prayers, and have organised several. But, prayers can never substitute for doing the right thing or doing things right. We cannot drill holes into our boat and then pray it does not sink. Not even God can save us from such an eventuality. Thus, we cannot be committed to ethnic bloc voting and yet expect to get godly leaders.

We cannot consistently vote in thieves and robbers and hope that they will turn into saints – to oversee our resources and deal decisively with corruption. We cannot entrench tribalism and nepotism in the running of Government and yet hope to miraculously build a united nation. Neither can we persistently spew ethnic vitriol, yet pray to dwell in unity, peace and liberty. No way! God’s promise to heal the land is contingent upon humbling ourselves and turning from our wicked ways.

As long as we are not ready to make adjustments, the prospect of elections will always raise anxiety. In which case, we might as well declare elections a national disaster.

- The writer is the Presiding Bishop of Christ is the Answer Ministries (CITAM). [email protected]