Photo caption: A past demonstration against IEBC in Migori County. (Photo/the-star.co.ke)The August 8th presidential election results were contested by the National Super Alliance (NASA) who later moved to the Supreme Court leading to the annulling of the outcome.
However, an impasse was witnessed when Raila Odinga of NASA pulled put of the repeat race citing irregularities within IEBC which he believed could not conduct a free, fair, credible and transparent election. He ultimately called on his supporters to boycott the repeat poll.
NASA also staged demos against IEBC where the police quashed their attempts of accessing the electoral body's offices around the country. The running battles between the police and the demonstrators led to injuries and deaths in some instances and the NASA leaders alleged that the police were targeting a certain community in the country.
Politicians in the country have created and preached a perception that it is only persons from their tribe who must hold power for them to enjoy growth and development. That is why the current impasse has been reciprocated to tribal animosity among Kenyans.
In Nairobi on Friday for example, reports alleged that there was a tribal clash in Kawangware where a group of people attacked residents of the area and destroying property in the process. In other areas like Migori, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya and Bungoma demos have been staged disputing the repeat election held on Thursday citing lack of fairness in the whole processes.
On the other hand, those who participated in the election believe the results to be announced by IEBC should stand and the country should move forward.
The division being experienced now is nonetheless dangerous for the peace and unity of the country. Politicians should bring a new perspective to the political game that does not necessarily rely on tribal strongholds for one to win an election. If the current problems are swept under the carpet, then future elections will be hard to handle just because a group of people feel the whole process is not fair.