This blog is dedicated to comments and discussion on political, economic and social issues in Kenya. It also throws insights to issues of corruption, democratisation and human rights.
It is only 8 days to the 4 th March 2013 general
elections and there is no better message to the electorate and politicians than
Charlene Mugo’s appeal to the people of Kenya. Watch the video and internalize
it.
It is your duty as a citizen to ensure
peace and tranquility prevails before, during and after the elections. The
children and everyone else in Kenya need to realize their dreams. Elections' chaos
and violence will endanger these dreams.
Let Charlene Mugo achieve her dream to
become a surgeon.
President Barack Obama has chosen the power
of video to deliver his message on the impeding Kenya general elections to be held
on March 4, 2013 to the people of Kenya. He appeals to Kenyans to reject
intimidation and violence. He implores them to choose freedom, fairness and openness.
The elections should be free and fair, he adds.
For those who dispute the outcome of the
elections, he asks them to use the Courts rather than the streets to resolve
the disputes. We vividly remember the main course of violence in the last
election was the rejection by one of the antagonistic parties to seek justice
from the Courts. Obama reminds that with the new constitutions, institutions
and mechanisms for resolution of disputes are in place. Anyone that feels
wronged should seek this path rather than the route of violence.
Obama also stresses the neutrality of
America in the election. He says that America has no preferred candidate nor
does it support or endorse any of the candidates. For America the message is clear “Let
the people Decide”. Obama’s administration seems to distance itself from the
position taken by countries such as United Kingdom and some European Union
governments that warn Kenyans on who to elect as their president.
Kenyans should listen carefully to what
Obama is saying for the sake of our beloved country. Don’t let anyone scare you
as to who to elect as your president. The choice is yours. Also don’t listen to
those who threaten you with sanctions for opting to support some candidates and
not others. Shun those who cry wolf just in order to create a scenario for
dispute, conflict, hatred and even violence. Don’t entertain rumors,
perceptions, allegations and outright lies for the sake of hating one candidate
over another. Let us avoid pitting one candidate against the other, one
community against another and one region against the others. We are all Kenyas and so should we remain during elections campaigns and after the elections. We should not dare our country apart for the sake of elections.
Listen to those who say what they will do
to improve your lives, standard of living and your general welfare. Ask those peddling
lies, rumors, allegations and hatred to stop. Freedom of expression does not
include insincerity and deception. It is a fair play for the sake of the
people, peace and tranquility. Let us discuss the pressing problems facing the country with
sobriety. The sensitive, divisive and emotive issues should be interrogated after
the elections when the tension and pressure of elections have subsided. Let us
carry out the dialogue through the institutions and mechanisms established by
the constitution and not election public rallies.
Kenyans are peaceful people and can deliver
a peaceful violence free election. Let us do it.
