Can Kenya Turn Poisonous Political Competition Into a Gift To Benefit All?- Rev Canon Peter Karanja NCCK General Secretary
June 6, 2014
When Kenya held her 11th general election on 4th March last year, Kenyans and the entire world were apprehensive about the outcome. Some were convinced that there would be a smooth transition because of the peace and reconciliation efforts that were made following the 2007/2008 post-election violence. However to others expected , violence especially in the hotspots.
So, why are elections such a painful, divisive and emotive affair for Kenyans? What would be the turning point? An analysis of trends in Kenya’s previous electoral processes suggests ways a that can help the country realize stability.
The build up to independence in 1963, was a unifying factor against the British colonial masters. Kenyans shed blood with thousands of them being herded into concentration camps. The country’s founding father Jomo Kenyatta emerged from detention to head the state and government . The moment was ecstatic as Kenyans sang the national anthem at Uhuru Gardens. Kenya’s different communities united behind him and became part of the independence government. This unity was however shortlived when dictatorship reared its ugly head leading to open rebellion by the then opposition leader Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
Fast forward to 2002 the second time Kenyans experienced broad based unity, courtesy of the infamous memorandum of understanding between Raila Odinga’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Mwai Kibaki’s National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK). In that year’s election, Kibaki was supported by leaders from several ethnic groups. The MoU provided two main political pillars: the creation of the position of Prime Mister and the sharing of executive positions on a 50-50 basis.
Kibaki would later trash the agreement and betray the trust bestowed on him as the leader. The fallout that followed would inform the events that characterized the 2007 general election and subsequent ethnic violence on a scale never seen before in the country.. The altercation, mass killings and wanton destruction of property attracted international attention with former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan coming in to lead mediation process that culminated in the signing of the National Accord that paved way for the coalition government.
If the 2002 MoU had been implemented, perhaps Kenya would have enacted a new constitution in 2005 and post election violence of 2007/2008 would have been avoided.
What lesson have we learnt from the experience of the MoU that preceded the 2002 elections and the National Accord?
One, Kenya cannot enjoy peace when a significant portion of its citizens are excluded from the government. Communities that are marginalized will rise up against the ruling class to the detriment of all.
Two, a win-win scenario is the only insurance against the risk of political instability. As Kenyans approach the next elections, there is an urgent need to develop pursue and attain a win-win scenario for the sake of peace. The National Accord provides a good model for peace where all ethnic communities are equitably represented in the government.
Three, the two main political forces in Kenya- Jubilee and CORD-need to sit together and agree on the modalities to include all the Kenyan communities in the next government. Each wants to win the next election and exclude the other from power for 5 years. Finally, political transformation does not require self sacrifice from leaders and citizens;it requires enlightened self interest. We will not succeed by telling politicians to subordinate their parochial interest to the national good. It is important that the political elites temper competition with cooperation. Politicians must realize that their self interest would be better advanced by cooperating – even with former foes – rather than grandstanding. We must turn our Achilles Heel of political competition into a strength. Will Kenyans create their own solutionsor will they continue to wait for international prescriptions? The jury is out.
