As the March 4 election date beckons,
calls for Kenyans to maintain peace have been on the increase. Opinion leaders,
foreign envoys, men and women of the cloth as well as media houses have all acknowledged
the fact that Kenyans are currently more divided than ever before along
political lines.
But rather than fueling this division further,
they have called out in unison for Kenyans to think beyond ethnic and political
lines for the sake of peace. Some have
even warned that Kenya ought not to repeat the same mistake twice, perhaps in
reference to the fatal 2007/2008 post polls chaos.
There is no doubt that everybody is
so far in agreement that the need to maintain peace during the electioneering
period is paramount. But the how do we do this? Here are a few suggestions;
The
best we can do is vote
The impression that has been created
by politicians, judging by the way they are handling their campaigns, is that
we will do everything to ensure that they get elected. In reality this, this is not true.
Regardless of love we have for our preferred
candidates, be it presidential, senatorial or whatever, the best we can do is
vote for them. If our votes are not enough to help them win, then that is none
of our business.
Quit campaigning for you preferred
candidates
In case
you haven’t realized it yet, this is the most irritating thing to do especially
among your friends. Besides you don’t earn anything from it and if you were the
excellent campaigner that you thing you are, why didn’t they hire you as their
campaign manager in the first place?
Stop watching news
I know
this might sounds stupid and you probably think it’s it is impossible because
we are currently being bombarded by politics from all sides. But come to think
of it, you are unlikely to change you position about who you will vote for,
anyway. So why don’t you take a break?
Read the constitution
Many of us
have never read the constitution since 2010 and the reason we read it then was
because we wanted to make a decision on whether to vote for it or against it. Friends,
this is the right time to read the constitution. Incidentally, did you know
that the transition from the current system government to the devolved system of
government will take three years after the elections? Well, only the
constitution can tell you that.
Ignore opinion polls
Opinion
polls reflect popularity of candidates; not their leadership abilities. The later should form you basis on how you
ought to cast your vote. There is no guarantee that opinion polls results will be
similar to the physical election results so don’t raise your hopes too high.
Don’t
wear campaign paraphernalia
I know
that it is you constitutional right to express your opinion freely without victimization.
But unless you are attending a political rally don’t wear campaign T-shirts. It
is even worse if you wear them to social events because people might hold the
view that you think that your personal opinion is superior to those of others.
Avoid
tribal arithmetic
Even if it could be true that
politics is a game of numbers, basing the outcome of the polls on tribal
allegiances is absolute balderdash. It insults the intelligence of Kenyans who
are capable of making independent choices.
Vote early
It has often been said that Kenyans like
doing things in the last minute. If you employer has given you a day off to go
and cast your vote, why the hell do you arrive at the voting station 30 minutes
to the close of voting?
Lastly but most importantly,
politicians never lose sleep for the sake of Kenyans. We are the ones who lose
sleep because of them and you know what? They couldn’t care less.
Watch
a movie
So, after you cast your vote, what
are you going to do with the rest of the day? I suggest you go back to your house and watch at least five most
interesting movies. Call your friends if you want and by the time you are done,
the elections will be over.
