ALL EYES ON KENYA "MARCH 4 ELECTION"
Posted on
Mar 2, 2013
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East Africa and the wider world are keenly watching as Kenyans prepare to vote tomorrow in possibly the most important elections in the country’s modern history.
This is understandable given that over 1,100 people were killed and more than 600,000 displaced in violence that flared up immediately after the disputed 2007 elections.
Being the region’s economic powerhouse, Kenya is strategically vital for the region’s peace and stability, global and regional diplomacy as well as humanitarian activities in the Great Lakes region to be left to go to the dogs. As the region’s biggest economy and its commercial hub, it is also pivotally vital in the growth and development of this part of the world and for the successful and effective completion of the EAC integration process.
“If there was ever a time when the entire region experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, that period would be right after the 2007-8 post-election violence and the political fallout that ensued in Kenya. All of the countries in the region felt the pinch of the Kenya in turmoil,” said development analyst Ahmed Salim, who is a programme manager with The Society for International Development.
The corporate world, which uses Kenya as its springboard to venture into regional markets, was left dumbfounded as violence escalated especially after the outgoing president, Mr Mwai Kibaki, was dubiously sworn in as head of state.
Although there is optimism of soberness this time around, election time still fills those who were directly affected by the hostility with dread. The main source of their fear is that among the frontrunners of the poll, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto, are implicated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for fanning the post 2007-election violence.
Some countries, especially those whose foreign trade goes through Kenya, have begun to take precautions. Fearful that violence may mar the elections just like it did in 2007, Rwanda has increased its fuel reserves that can last over one and a half months. Although there have been growing signs of things not going to be smooth, Kenyan diplomats have been on a regional and global trotting mission to tell the world that the elections will be peaceful.
“We want to assure all the people that there is nothing to worry about since the government has put in place different measures to ensure that the elections are free and fair,” the outgoing Kenyan High Commissioner to Rwanda, Mr Makena Muchiri, said this week.
As Kenyans head to the poll tomorrow, many an analysts say the outcome of the election and its implications for the region remain uncertain. The polls indicate a tight race but no one knows what will happen when the eventual winner is declared, which will be 48 hours after the voting.
To East Africans, the most devastating thing if the polls go awry would be the on-going efforts to integrate the region commercially, economically and politically. According to the head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Mohamed Bakari, the implementation of the EAC bloc initiative should not be compromised by anyone’s win.
“The important thing is for peace to prevail throughout the electioneering period…an eruption of violence would halt all efforts to unite the region as Kenya will be seen as an unstable country,” he told The Citizen on Sunday this week.
His sentiments were echoed by another UDSM scholar, Mr Paschal Mdukula of the Department of English and Foreign Languages, who observed that it would be messy in some countries if Kenya plunged into chaos.
“The EAC integration process would hit a snag should chaos occur as Kenya would shift its focus to solving internal problems rather than building the region, let us pray that all ends well,” said Mr Mdukula.
The minister for East African Cooperation, Mr Samuel Sitta, said Kenyan peace was vital in ensuring that the EAC moves forward smoothly. He was optimistic of peace and tranquillity prevailing since according to him the pre-election situation and mood was so far positive.
“Kenyans are our counterparts in the East African Community (EAC) and our neighbours. We are optimistic that the elections will be smooth, free and fair,” he noted.
Mr Sitta added that Tanzania would follow and observe the elections closely through the EAC and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observers’ missions.
Among issues of keen interest in the General Election is the presidential poll especially if it is won by Mr Uhuru Kenyatta. The EU and US Government have threatened the country with economic sanctions if the son of Kenya’s founding father ascends to the top seat.
This is understandable given that over 1,100 people were killed and more than 600,000 displaced in violence that flared up immediately after the disputed 2007 elections.
Being the region’s economic powerhouse, Kenya is strategically vital for the region’s peace and stability, global and regional diplomacy as well as humanitarian activities in the Great Lakes region to be left to go to the dogs. As the region’s biggest economy and its commercial hub, it is also pivotally vital in the growth and development of this part of the world and for the successful and effective completion of the EAC integration process.
“If there was ever a time when the entire region experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, that period would be right after the 2007-8 post-election violence and the political fallout that ensued in Kenya. All of the countries in the region felt the pinch of the Kenya in turmoil,” said development analyst Ahmed Salim, who is a programme manager with The Society for International Development.
The corporate world, which uses Kenya as its springboard to venture into regional markets, was left dumbfounded as violence escalated especially after the outgoing president, Mr Mwai Kibaki, was dubiously sworn in as head of state.
Although there is optimism of soberness this time around, election time still fills those who were directly affected by the hostility with dread. The main source of their fear is that among the frontrunners of the poll, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto, are implicated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for fanning the post 2007-election violence.
Some countries, especially those whose foreign trade goes through Kenya, have begun to take precautions. Fearful that violence may mar the elections just like it did in 2007, Rwanda has increased its fuel reserves that can last over one and a half months. Although there have been growing signs of things not going to be smooth, Kenyan diplomats have been on a regional and global trotting mission to tell the world that the elections will be peaceful.
“We want to assure all the people that there is nothing to worry about since the government has put in place different measures to ensure that the elections are free and fair,” the outgoing Kenyan High Commissioner to Rwanda, Mr Makena Muchiri, said this week.
As Kenyans head to the poll tomorrow, many an analysts say the outcome of the election and its implications for the region remain uncertain. The polls indicate a tight race but no one knows what will happen when the eventual winner is declared, which will be 48 hours after the voting.
To East Africans, the most devastating thing if the polls go awry would be the on-going efforts to integrate the region commercially, economically and politically. According to the head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Mohamed Bakari, the implementation of the EAC bloc initiative should not be compromised by anyone’s win.
“The important thing is for peace to prevail throughout the electioneering period…an eruption of violence would halt all efforts to unite the region as Kenya will be seen as an unstable country,” he told The Citizen on Sunday this week.
His sentiments were echoed by another UDSM scholar, Mr Paschal Mdukula of the Department of English and Foreign Languages, who observed that it would be messy in some countries if Kenya plunged into chaos.
“The EAC integration process would hit a snag should chaos occur as Kenya would shift its focus to solving internal problems rather than building the region, let us pray that all ends well,” said Mr Mdukula.
The minister for East African Cooperation, Mr Samuel Sitta, said Kenyan peace was vital in ensuring that the EAC moves forward smoothly. He was optimistic of peace and tranquillity prevailing since according to him the pre-election situation and mood was so far positive.
“Kenyans are our counterparts in the East African Community (EAC) and our neighbours. We are optimistic that the elections will be smooth, free and fair,” he noted.
Mr Sitta added that Tanzania would follow and observe the elections closely through the EAC and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observers’ missions.
Among issues of keen interest in the General Election is the presidential poll especially if it is won by Mr Uhuru Kenyatta. The EU and US Government have threatened the country with economic sanctions if the son of Kenya’s founding father ascends to the top seat.
Despite concurring that Mr Uhuru’s victory would complicate the ICC case and Kenya’s diplomatic status, Dr Bakari said it would be difficult to try him at The Hague. According to him, Kenya was a strategic nation to most Western powers therefore he expects a shift in their stance to suit their military, intelligence, commercial and diplomatic interests.
