Diplomats’ remarks on our elections reek of hypocrisy

Diplomats’ remarks on our elections reek of hypocrisy

When I heard US President Barack Obama’s remarks on Kenya’s election, I thought everything is okay and that the US and other members of the international communities are ready to allow Kenyans to vote freely.

 It has come to me as a surprise to hear these people still want to monitor our election but in the wrong way. Japan, UK and US among others have reversed their earlier words.

 They have embarked on threatening us with ‘consequences’ if certain leaders are elected in the March 4 election. It is worrying these people have gone to an extent of naming Kenyans facing trials at the International Criminal Court  as ‘unsuitable candidates’.

What happened to rule that a suspect remains innocent until proven guilty?

I am non-partisan but believe in freedom of every Kenyan to run for any elective post of choice. I don’t understand why the US and her friends are trying to be partisans? Why should they be seen to take sides?

Kenyans need freedom to elect their favourite leaders and should not be told whom to vote for. Kenyans should not be threatened by sanctions and such odd things.

{David Mwaura, Kisumu}

 

Envoys representing foreign countries in Kenya must desist from making remarks that could polarise our nation ahead of elections.

Coming from a highly contested and disorganised election that led to Kenya’s worst politically-instigated uprising in 2007-08, the envoys should know better than engage in peppered rhetoric that is likely to divide us down in the middle. They must tone down on their furious coercion and let the voter engage in their constitutional freedoms and rights without influence.

{Salome Nashipai, Nakuru}

 

Recent statements by diplomats from the West, chief among them Johnnie Carson and the British High Commissioner to Kenya, reek of nothing less than flavoured hypocrisy for several reasons.

The interference of Kenya’s electoral process by making pronouncements about the ramifications that will follow should Kenya elect certain aspirants goes against their respect for democratic freedoms.

Kenya, though a developing country, is no exception to the rule that citizens have a right to vote and enjoy unlimited freedom of make political choices without undue pressure. What the diplomats are therefore doing goes against universally accepted principles that guide this process.

 All along, these diplomats have maintained that they will remain impartial to Kenya’s electoral process but this seems to be a blatant negation from reality. This prove that the diplomats are not only biased but also have vested interests in the election outcome.

{Rashid Ahmed, Mombasa}

 

Why tribalism overshadows democracy

From the Bible we learn God decreed that humans shall speak different languages after the failed Tower of Babel project (Genesis 11). For Christians, that was the genesis of ‘tribes’ as we know them today. But since then, we have learnt through various experiences that tribalism is in the DNA of humans.

Democracy was invented by the ancient Greeks to involve everyone in choosing who among many capable candidates would be their leader. It is clear when they invented that method of selection or election, they were not of different ethnicities, races or religions. People will naturally gravitate towards a person who is connected to them by ethnicity, race or religion among other factors.

In Africa our leaders capitalise on that aspect of human nature to achieve personal, selfish and political goals. Kenya is not an exception. Politicians hypocritically call each other tribalists yet none of them has been elected into office out of the comfort zone of his or her tribesmen.

As Plato put it, the penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.

If our politicians were to be sincere on fighting tribalism, instead of jumping left and right screaming tribalism they should come up with a different method of electing the head of State; one that will afford equal chances to every Kenyan to become president even if he or she is from a small ethnic group.

{Malcolm Fouasso, Via Email}

 

Describe governors in simplest terms

‘Gubernatorial’ is one of the most overused terms by the media and public alike in the recent days as the country gears towards the elections. The word originates from the Latin word gubernare, meaning a politically elected state or county governor.

However, the media and public leaders should give preference to the word governor, which shares the same meaning as gubernatorial, which is easier to identify with and does not sound like a cliché.

The term is new in Kenya and has been brought about by the new devolved government structure.

Governorship is an elective post and those who will be elected to the post will serve as the chief executive officers of the newly created counties. As county managers, governor’s main role will be to implement State laws and overseeing the operation of the State executive branch.

However, many people I have met seem uncomfortable with the use of gubernatorial in place of governor.

{James Okong’o, Via Email}