By Dak Buoth Riek-Gaak,
August 08, 2022 — In the wee hours of Tuesday 9th August 2022, Kenyans went to the poll to choose their leaders for a third time in a row since the promulgation of the constitution 2010 thirteen years ago. On 6th August 2022, political campaigns came to a close after months of successful and peaceful vote hunting by aspirants vying for various presidential and parliamentary seats.
Election is not an event but a process that has four essential stages namely registration and verification of voters, campaign, voting, counting and declaration of results. The two remaining stages of voting and counting are crucial to this democratic exercise.
The way the campaign ended peacefully is the same way the outcome will be at the end of the day. I’m pretty sure and confident that this historical plebiscite will be peaceful. The peaceful outcome of this election will largely depend on the seriousness of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that has vowed to conduct a free and credible election.
The just concluded peaceful campaigns will greatly attract and motivate the registered voters to turn out in large numbers knowing that there would be no cases of skirmishes during and after the poll.
On 30th May 2022, I perused a citizen weekly publication on the American report titled Worldwide Threat Assessment. It says and I quote ‘‘the agencies warn of the likelihood of poll violence given that none of the two leading presidential contenders-Azimio La Umoja one Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga, and United Democratic Alliance flag bearer and deputy president William Ruto is ready to accept the voters verdicts if defeated at the final presidential results.’’
I partly disagreed with these findings saying there would be violence because none of them will accept presidential results. The duo had worked together before and they are Nilotic brothers who shared some political ideals.
In any event, if one of them felt unhappy that the election was not carried out in the manner prescribed by law, the aggrieved party will approach the court of law.
As at now, Kenya has a functional judiciary that all Kenyans believe in. The manner in which contestants carried out their campaign devoid of any political violence demonstrates that Kenya’s democracy has come of age. Thus, I doubt if the report’s findings will come true.
I know Kenyans do not take this election exercise for granted. As someone who studied in this country, this democratic space that Kenyans are enjoying, was not given on a silver platter. There are gallant Kenyans leaders who toiled and moiled for Kenya’s second liberation that brought Kenya’s new constitution to fruition.
I can mention a few of these second liberation stalwarts, and especially those who are in the race vying in this election. First, revolutionary Kogi Wamwere who is vying as an independent candidate for Nakuru County senatorial seat, second, James Orengo, candidate for Siaya gubernatorial position, third, Kiraitu Mirungi, gubernatorial candidate in Meru county, fourth, Peter Anyang Nyongo, gubernatorial candidate for Kisumu county, fifth Raila Amolo Odingo, Presidential aspirant vying under Azimio La Umoja coalition not forgetting Martha Wangari Karua who is a running mate to the Azimio la Umoja flag bearer.
Now as Kenyans decide, I wish them good luck in this coming election. Those of us from South Sudan, who lack this democratic opportunity to elect our leaders cannot envy but enjoy and learn from this example. We should just try to be happy that our region has got a mentor whom we can emulate or imitate when it comes to matters of democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.
On 29 July, 2022, I was among the South Sudanese community leaders that were called to the Embassy by South Sudan Ambassador to Kenya Chol Mawut Ajongo. He briefed us on how South Sudanese in Kenya should conduct themselves during and after this election.
Ambassador Ajongo only told us to tell our people to exercise utmost precaution in spite of the fact that the election is likely going to be peaceful. In Nuer language we say ‘chi wan le dwal’ which means precaution is not cowardice. Therefore, he reminded us to do the following;
First, he urges the South Sudanese leaving in Kenya to do advance shopping so that on the election day they can remain indoors as voting takes place, second, he said do not send underage children for shopping, third he encourages us to avoid crowd and rowdy places, fourth, he strongly warn us to refrain from discussing and analyzing politics with strangers particularly on the streets, Fifth, Ambassador Ajongo encourages all South Sudanese nationals to leave unnecessary travels during and after this election. Sixth, he wants us to pray and wish our Kenyans brothers and sisters a peaceful election. On 30th July 2022, Ambassador Ajongo spoke at length about these points when he addressed the Liech Community gathering during the graduation thank-giving of Unity State minister of Land and public Utilities, Lam Tungwar Kueigwong in Nairobi. He emphasized very much on point number four saying that there are South Sudanese, who by virtue of them being in Kenya for a long time think they are Kenyans even when they do not have Kenyan identity cards.
Ambassador Ajongo, who is a trained lawyer said by law we are foreigners, and that there are certain things such as this election that we should distance ourselves from. In addition to what Ambassador Ajongo pointed out, I would say that this is time to sit, watch news and read books or newspapers to acquaint ourselves with what will be transferred during and after the poll.
The Writer is the Chairman of Liech community Association in Kenya, the views expressed here are his own, and he can be reached for comments via eligodakb@yahoo.com
