HOW TO KEEP PEACE DURING ELECTIONS

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.