Poll violence will negatively affect Kenya's democracy

The election violence witnessed during the party primaries paints a gloomy picture of the democratic process.

Different parts of the country have seen riots, some leading to death. It is worth noting that violence in Kenya has been part and parcel of the electoral process since the adoption of multi-party democracy.

The peak of this unfortunate occurrences took place in the 2007 General Election when an estimated 1,300 Kenyans died and 600,000 were internally displaced. The main cause of violence is politicians, who use their offices to accumulate private wealth, making elections a must-win contest.

Losing means loss of power to control public wealth. Those in power, therefore, use all means to retain it even if it means causing deaths.

Political violence leads to intimidation and harassment, which instils fear, leading to displacement of potential voters.

This sabotages the will of the electorate during elections. It also leads to unpopular leaders being elected by the minority because the majority, fearing for their lives, keep away from the electoral process. In such a scenario, some of the best brains are not elected due to victimsation, while others are brutally eliminated.

Kenya has pursued a host of political reforms designed to reduce election violence. These include the signing of the electoral code of conduct by all political parties taking part in elections, employment of a large number of policemen, surpassing the international standards of the police-public ratio, and increased civic education.

As August 8 fast approaches, Kenyans should shun violence and exercise their democratic right by voting the right candidates. The youth should desist being used by politicians