With Jubilee in shreds, the legislature divided, religious groups compromised and new political alliances proliferate, peace in the forthcoming polls cannot be guaranteed.
This in a country often gripped by fear of instigated violence and property destruction during elections and more so now with a transition looming.
Renewed ethnic rivalry and name-calling in premature presidential campaigns led by no less a person than the Deputy President William Ruto are clear dress rehearsals for the worst. This is likely to escalate and spill into the August general election.
Fierce opposition and frivolous amendments to the Political Parties Bill are some examples of rehearsed catalysts to a polarised situation in which supremacy war and numerical strength between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy play out publicly.
For nearly four years, Ruto and his allies have openly criticised Kenyatta’s administration for accommodating strangers. The stranger in this case is ODM leader Raila Odinga, a runner-up in the 2017 presidential election whose results were nullified by the Supreme Court.
Uhuru and Raila have since reconciled but Ruto and his supporters would have none of that. The earth-shaking handshake, according to Ruto, was not a peace overture but a ploy to lock him out of the succession race by the ruling party, Jubilee.
Consequently, Ruto abandoned Jubilee and sought refuge in a new outfit known as the United Democratic Alliance, from where he has launched a class war in public rallies. His criticism is meant to embarrass the government, downplay the Kenyatta legacy and, above all, jeopardise peaceful transition.
The deputy president would dare not throw barbs at the president under the old Constitution, which had no room for criticism of the party of choice. Ruto owes his political survival to the immunity provided in the 2010 Constitution whose enactment he strongly opposed.
The political temperature is at fever pitch and it is safe to conclude that behind most of the election campaign chaos, lurks political leaders and aspirants on whose payroll are goons retained not for peacekeeping but to unleash terror and fear on rivals.
That explains why the weaker sex, women, shuns competitive politics. Cognisant of that fact, political parties should be compelled to account for the ruthless behaviour of their supporters in public rallies.
Notwithstanding toxic language and derogatory references, peaceful election campaign is possible in the circumstances. Reference should be made to the Moi succession campaign in 2002 when a song by Gidi Gidi and Maji Maji, Unbwogable (which translates to unshakable), neutralised fanatics and chauvinists. Chaos was averted.
Under the circumstances, peace gospel to voters is a must and handshake partners should do everything within their power to ensure that days leading to the transition are friendly.
The expertise and talent of the stage actors, comedians, musicians, sportspeople and cartoonists should not be ignored if goons are to be tamed. Already, Kenya’s international soccer star Dennis Oliech has expressed desire to lead soccer players in spreading the peace message ahead of the election.
Freelance journalist
