A bus is loaded with luggage. Many Kenyans are travelling to their rural homes from Nairobi. [Photo: thenewstribe.com]

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A casual survey at the country bus shows that many people are travelling upcountry. 

There is an unprecedented exodus to the rural homes especially by people who live in low-income residential areas.

Every evening at the Kangemi market, travellers are seen with their household furniture waiting for buses that travel mostly to Western Kenya in a rush akin only to the Christmas season when people travel home en masse to be with their loved ones. The bus companies are reporting good business and while some had been forced to keep their buses on reserve due to low business last month, they are now operating at full capacity. This brings us to the question, why the rush now? Kenya will hold its general election next month on 8th of August. The hotly contested elections have seen a fair share of tensions being spread across the country by politicians who deem elections to be a do or die event. Why are people in Kawangware, Kangemi, Kibera and Mathare seemingly fleeing their homes? 

This question can not be effectively answered until a close examination of 2007/2008 elections is done. 

During the time, politicians were making the same statements that they are making today, making claims allegations of rigging and removal of outsiders in some regions. What followed next was a slaughter of almost 2,000 people and displacement of almost half a million people. The question is, out of the people travelling upcountry, how many are registered voters in Nairobi and it's its environs? Does it mean they will forfeit their civic duty just to be safe? What does this mean to the economy? With a huge chunk of people who drive the economy out of their places of work, what price are we paying for this election? It's time politicians stopped treating elections as a do or die affair. It's time to stop the reckless utterances. Elections and political competitions shouldn't necessarily warrant enmity. The scars of 2007/2008 are still very raw and the country still needs healing.