Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others
Once upon a time, there lived an old man who had many sons, who were always falling out with one another. He had often exhorted them to live together in harmony but to no purpose.
One day he called them around him, produced a bundle of sticks and had them try each, in turn, to break it across. Each put forth all his strength, but the bundle resisted all their efforts. Then, cutting the cord, which bound the sticks together, he told his sons to break them separately.
This was done with the greatest ease. “See, my sons, the power of unity! Bound together by brotherly love, you may defy almost every mortal ill; divided, you will fall prey to your enemies.”
The 35th US President John F Kennedy once said, “Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.”
Last Sunday marked the first official day of the August 9 election campaigns. With less than 70 days to go, the next few days will be busy as aspirants present their documents to the IEBC to officially become candidates.
The final sprint to the election is here and all eyes will shift to the independent commissions to steer the country through a peaceful election and handover of power. Aspirants are bound by the electoral code of conduct, which the IEBC must enforce to safeguard peace.
The Judiciary has done a commendable job by remaining independent. The EACC, IEBC, DCI and Judiciary are the pillars Kenyans are leaning on for a peaceful election. Those working in these institutions must ensure that their work is beyond reproach.
It is important that these institutions now give regular updates on election preparations. The IEBC, for instance, needs to update Kenyans on the preparations of all election processes on a daily basis.
None of these institutions should be prompted by ordinary Kenyans or politicians for updates. They have a duty to ensure that their work is geared toward promoting a proper election that is seen to be free and fair by all.
While these institutions must do a lot, we also have to work hard as Kenyans – civilians and politicians – to ensure that the country remains united and peaceful. It is important that we all remember that the country belongs to us all and will remain after the election.
Whenever we get into political competition, we appear to forget that this country belongs to all of us and it is our only home. If anything goes wrong and the country gets into a crisis as happened in 2008, it will not matter what side we belong to, we will all be affected.
After the 2007 election, we witnessed what can happen when we allow politicians to use us in the pursuit of selfish interests. As we vowed after losing 1,500 Kenyans while 600,000 others were displaced, never again will blood be shed in the name of politics.
In the end, Kenyans only want peace. No one’s personal ambition is worth the death of innocent Kenyans. All candidates must commit themselves to peace, or we will all face the consequences thereafter.
Every Kenyan, regardless of their tribe, religious or political affiliation, wants a country where they will meet all their aspirations. Kenyans want a peaceful environment where they can carry on their lives without disruption.
This is thus a rallying call to promote peace and unity during the campaigns and into the election, where we must vote wisely and peacefully. Kenyans must quit pulling in different directions and focus on a cohesive way of uniting our strengths to deal with our challenges.
Kenyans need to see through the politicians and ignore their empty rhetoric as this is one way of ensuring that they have no room to spread their divisive politics. Kenyans must refuse to be used as pawns during elections when politicians take advantage of the competition to create division.
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