President Kenyatta and IEBC’s Big Test

President Uhuru Kenyatta is facing arguably his toughest political battle against the opposition chief, Raila Odinga as Kenya prepares for the general election on August 8.

The Gambia and so many countries across the continent have seen their leaders refuse to concede defeat in the past. The global eye and ear is on Kenya to see if it will be a free credible and fair poll, and if the incumbent will concede defeat in the event he loses.

Africa’s biggest threat to democracy is the reluctance and blatant refusal by its tin-pot dictators, authoritarian rulers and self-made demi-gods to concede defeat even when defeats are crystal clear.

Most recently, it happened in The Gambia after Yahya Jammeh lost to Emmanuel Barrow in December last year and also in 2011, when Laurent Gbagbo lost to Alassane Ouattara. 

In both, the international community pushed them to leave office, albeit reluctantly. Besides, the two nations nearly slid into civil war because of the power tensions.

 

Kenya, one of Africa’s model democracies tasted fire in 2007-2008 when the defunct Electoral Board of Kenya (ECK) admitted a lack of a clear winner, leading to the worst ethnic-grounded violence in the East African nation, where at least 1000 people died while millions were displaced.

The other malaise threatening credible and fair polls on the continent are the openly partisan and pro-government election commissions that have ruined public trust and given opposition leaders valid grounds to always contest election results.

 

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) faced with several credibility fights has failed to convince Kenyans of their neutrality, not only ahead of the coming poll.

It happened too before the 2013 election. 

Kenya heads to the poll set for August 8, in the wake of chilling allegations by NASA, which implicated the security forces as part of an evil axis by the ruling JUBILEE coalition to rig the election.

The government and IEBC miserably failed in efforts to counter the claims.

The disappearance and subsequent murder of the commission’s ICT manager on Monday, Chris Msando did not make matters any better, adding to more speculation even as investigations get underway.

It is a delicate balance by IEBC to give Kenyans a free, fair and credible and for the incumbent Kenyatta to concede defeat in the likelihood of a Raila win.

Sadly, the government’s importation of imposingly intimidating military equipment to deal with violence after the big day, further adds to the cynical environment surrounding one of Kenya’s most decisive poll!

Controversy and acrimony surrounded IEBC’s decision to award the printing of presidential ballot papers to the Dubai-based Al-Ghurair firm.

It took a Court of Appeal intervention to overturn an earlier ruling by the High Court that had issued blocking orders on the process, which presented a logistical nightmare.

Peaceful nations are not the product of parading intimidating military equipment ready to silence any protests that as it is the norm, characterize the bungled presidential polls across Africa. They are products of free, fair and credible polls.

The government’s goofs and indecisive steps by the IEBC gave the opposition a valid ground to allege all attempts to rig the election. 

Kenya heads to the decisive poll in an environment filled with uncertainty. It is the worst way to approach a presidential election that normally elicits intense and passionate emotions amongst Kenyans, drawn along political and tribal lines.

Kenyatta and IEBC must steer Kenya the right direction. If the nation is thrown to the dogs, history will never forgive them just like most African leaders.

He has the golden chance to stand up and be counted if he loses. In the event of a re-election in a free and fair poll, then Raila Odinga and the opposition must lead the way and concede defeat.

IEBC has the noble chance to finally prove that the nation can enjoy the results of a free, fair and credible poll where every vote counts and that dead Kenyans do not resurrect on the big day to cast their vote!

Some of these precious chances, just like a bull elephant, come once!