Jubilee Should Quit And Kenya Hold Fresh Polls

Jubilee government of President Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto should resign because it has no legitimacy. The Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice Willy Mutunga should also follow suit if it is true that it made unjust ruling on a presidential Election petition by the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) party on last year’s general election where President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner by the Independent Electoral& Boundary Commission (IEBC) The report by (Jicho Pevu) of the Kenya Television Network has actually confirmed that the Supreme Court under Chief justice Willy Mutunga did not conduct through investigation before making the ruling on the petition to declare Uhuru Kenyatta as the legitimated elected president of Kenya. The investigative report has also confirmed previous claims not only by the opposition party Coalition for Reforms and Democracy- CORD party but also by some local and international analysts, critics and observers that the elections were rigged in favor of Uhuru Kenyatta. Chapter Six of the constitution is very clear about leadership and integrity. Kenyans cannot have confidence in a leadership that is doubted and leadership that is not trusted. A leader of good moral standing must earn integrity, trust and confidence through proper democratic electoral systems and processes. With the revelations regarding the intrigues behind last year’s general elections both Uhuru and Ruto have no choice but to resign to pave ways for fresh elections. This will be the only way to show Kenyans that they are true and honest leaders who believe in democracy and respect proper electoral process and democracy. As a president or a leader of a nation, I will be more uncomfortable leading a nation where nearly 70% of the population does not believe in me and who feels that I was not elected genuinely by the majority of the people and more so that I stole elections to become their leader. This is the highest level of immorality that any worthy leader should accept. Although elections are known to be rigged and stolen by politicians especially in Africa it should be respected and safe guarded as a means of creating and ensuring peace and unity of the people and among the people. It becomes tragic when it is openly rigged and stolen as per the revelation of KTN investigating team regarding the general elections of 2013. The post elections Violence of 2007 not only led to the loss of lives of innocent Kenyans and destruction of properties worth millions of shillings but also brought shame to Kenya and to the people of Kenya and to Africa in general. African leaders and African people should learn from past experiences no matter how sad so that they become better and stronger. Past experiences like the Rwanda genocide among others are not just for archives but should serve as learning yard sticks to measure performances. It is sad and tragic that the internationally community has no faith or trust on president Kenyatta and His Deputy William Ruto because of crime against Humanity cases they are facing before the International Criminal Court ( ICC). Equally Kenyans and other Africans will not trust nor believe in them especially now when it has become clear that they stole the elections or manipulated the electoral process in their favor. Willy Mutunga as the Chief Justice and the head of the Supreme Court should not expect respect from Kenyans when it is known that the Court made a half-baked ruling without thorough and proper investigation and interrogation to put an illegitimate government in place. The issue is not just about respecting and honoring the rule of law but also ensuring that proper, effective, sufficient and truthful judgments is made according to facts and reality without fear or favor The Constitution should be amended to allow more time for presidential election Appeal cases before the Supreme Court. . The Supreme Court should also be given the mandate to demand for data from the Independent Elections and Boundary Commission (IEBC) and other elections bodies to enable the court to determine and understand cases before them properly and promptly and not haphazardly. For many observers,CORD as an opposition party is a big disappointment to many Kenyans who are seeking justice and good governance practice from the jubilee government. It has failed to play its important role of putting Jubilee government on check. Corruption in the government is rising. CORD should demand for legitimacy of the government and the credibility of the president and his Deputy as per the demand of Chapter Six of the constitution on Leadership and Integrity.CORD should also demand for the disbandment of IEBC and the Supreme Court as the two have failed to ensure and provide justice and democracy as per the expectations of Kenyans.Cord should articulate effectively its prime role as the eye and watchman for the people on leadership and governance issues by the Jubilee government. By Denise Kodhe