Police battling NASA protesters on Friday last week. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
Since August 8 General Election, we have witnessed several incidents of violent chaos triggered arising from the disputed presidential election. It all started after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati declared President Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner.
Unlike in 2013, this time Raila got a favorable ruling but one thing remained clear, the Supreme Court did not nullify Uhuru’s victory on strength of the votes Raila garnered. The unanimous decision would be anchored on illegalities and irregularities that had marred the exercise. Initially, Nasa left no doubt it was ready to comply with the order.
Raila told his supporters; “I am now re-energized and prepared to face President Uhuru in the repeat polls. I will defeat him”. A few days later, this narrative would change. Raila vowed that no election will be held as he rallied his supporters behind this call.
“No election can take place without Raila”, his brigade insisted. Did Raila’s assertions, claiming he was opposed to the poll because the preparations did not comply with Supreme Court orders hold any water? The answer is No.
Does it mean political leaders did not learn any lesson from the 2007/08 violence? What do those hell-bent on plunging Kenya into anarchy stand to gain?
The same case applies to Jubilee leaders. Are they ready to meet Nasa? If yes, what will be the agenda of the meetings? As the adage goes, when two bulls fight, it is the grass that suffers. Tens of poor Kenyans have so far lost their lives and the country witnessed the wanton destruction of properties.
Turning to the latest violence, there were clear indications that Raila’s return from the US trip would be marked by bloody confrontations. On the eve of his arrival, his diehards addressed supporters in various forums and urged them to turn up in large numbers at JKIA to welcome their leader.
“JKIA is a public facility. It is bankrolled by tax-payers money. So you have every right to access,” they asserted. The police would, however, stand its ground that only family members and a few Nasa leaders would be allowed to enter the airport to welcome Raila. We all know that the JKIA is a restricted and protected area. So, the police had every right to craft a plan to help them to control the crowds.
If Nasa’s unruly mobs were allowed to enter, the police would have had a rough time protecting the rights of other airport’s users. The common practice world over is that mobs don’t access restricted areas. For security reasons, the police had outlawed a Nasa rally at Uhuru Park. Why defy this order? Nasa should now give us a break.