LESSONS FROM THE 2007 ELECTIONS IN KENYA

ELIAS MHEGERA, FRIDAY, March 28-April 3, 2008

CLOSE to the end of the year 2007, Kenya, one of former three East African countries before the inclusion of Burundi and Rwanda, conducted general elections. The results and the aftermath of those elections now remain just a sad history to Kenyans and other well-wishers. However, it is better that we recapitulate here and there in order to build a sold foundation for permanent tranguilty in the whole of East Africa.

It has to be known from the outset that the Kenyan situation was just culmination of the long term dissatisfaction in part of the countries' populace, due to nepotism and unequal distribution of resources and services. Although there are claims that the political tussle had its roots in the colonial legacy, but much has been contributed by greedy politicians who have failed to deliver to the expectations of their subjects.

On the other hand, it is much better to acknowledge the willingness to surrender power after defeats in elections which led to smooth transitions of power as it occured in Zambia when Kenneth Kaunda lost to Frederick Chiluba (1991), another example is Malawi where Kamuzu banda surrendered power to bakili Muluzi after he had lost in 1994 general elections. Furthermore, we have an example of Ghana where John Atta Mills , a presidential aspirant from the PNDC accepted defeat in December 7, 2004, from the opposition by John Kuffuor.

Elections results in the mentioned countries were in favor of the opposition, but the incumbent succumbed into smooth transitions by rendering power to those who had won elections. The Kenyan situation, therefore, is a sad one where the defeated captured power and wrangled for power sharing negotiations from the point of strength denying the deserving such an opportunity.

A tracer analysis would start with what happened during the orange vs. banana constitutional referundum in November 2005, a referundum that dismantled the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC). Therefore it was clear from the outset that Kenyans had already decided their political fate longer before the disputed election results.

A clear indication to this assertion is the number of members of parliament from that party even though the statistics were startling, but indicated that it scored (99) seats, PNU (43), ODM-K (16) and KANU (14).