Saturday, June 9, 2012

Leaders count on courts and polls team for peaceful General Election


Leaders count on courts and polls team for peaceful General Election

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VP Kalonzo Musyoka (left) leads President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga as they head to the conference hall soon after they arrived at the Mombasa Continental Resort on June 8, 2012. Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU
VP Kalonzo Musyoka (left) leads President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga as they head to the conference hall soon after they arrived at the Mombasa Continental Resort on June 8, 2012. Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU 
By MARK AGUTU magutu@ke.nationmedia.com 
Posted  Friday, June 8  2012 at  22:30
A reformed Judiciary and a more effective electoral body are the triumph cards the government dangled on Friday as it assured Kenyans that violence will not recur during and after the forthcoming General Election.
President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose contested 2007 presidential election results plunged the country into political turmoil, also appealed to leaders and all Kenyans to embrace mature and issue-based politics to avoid getting the country on the road to anarchy.
The two leaders also appealed to the media to help shape issue-based campaigns and stop being used by politicians as avenues to propagate hate speech.
They spoke when they joined Members of Parliament, representatives of the civil society, religious fraternity and business community at MPs Forum on Peaceful Elections, which kicked off yesterday, at the Mombasa Continental Resort.
During the forum organised by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the leaders are expected to take a critical look at factors that led to the 2007 post-election violence and how to avoid a recurrence of the same during and after the March 2013 polls.
President Kibaki said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission was expected to put in place structures and systems that would ensure the country conducts a free, fair and peaceful General Election.
He assured Kenyans that the government would provide security and promote peace-building and conflict prevention initiatives throughout the country.
“The government will organise various gatherings with elders and wananchi across the country to mobilise national support for peaceful elections,” President Kibaki said.
Similarly, President Kibaki said, the Judiciary was being reformed to give effect to the new legal dispensation and entrench the rule of law.
“An impartial, fair and efficient judicial system is a key component for peace and stability in any country. I am pleased that the Judiciary has begun putting in place mechanisms to deal with electoral offences and disputes,” the President said.
Mr Odinga told leaders that the legitimacy of elections in a young democracy such as Kenya’s rested on them and it was their duty to help meet public expectation of valid and credible elections, conducted in an atmosphere of peace, mutual respect and co-operation.
“We should use this forum to ask ourselves the questions: What did we do wrong last time that we must not repeat this time? What did our institutions get wrong the last time that we as leaders must help them get right this time? What is it that has made our people resort to weapons in political contests, whose outcome ought to be settled by the ballot?” he said.
Avoid polarising
Whereas the IEBC had the task of implementing legal provisions on electoral offences, Mr Odinga said, leaders must offer it their full and practical support.
He challenged the media to avoid polarising the country ahead of polls.
“I urge radio operators to invest in equipment to control vulgar and inflammatory language, and I call on the Media Council of Kenya to continue using its good offices to ensure the media’s role is positive – and not destructive,” he said.
He called on faith-based organisations and the civil society to help minimise potential conflict, and sensitise Kenyans to play their part in nurturing a cohesive country.
“I want to believe that each and every one of us parliamentarians will henceforth be an ambassador of peace, as we move to prepare our constituents for peace forums to be held in each of the 47 counties next month,” he said.
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka Kalonzo said Kenyans and all their leaders must commit themselves fully to having peaceful elections.
He urged leaders seeking public office to demonstrate their commitment to support peaceful elections by signing an undertaking with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission.
“If all of us get together and sign this document, there will not be much need to deliberate forever on the need to have peaceful elections,” he said.
Chief Justice Willy Mutunga termed the meeting a crucial one for all arms of government given that it touches on national security.
He said the Judiciary had embarked on preparations for the polls, which include setting up of courts to handle disputes that may arise.
“We are in state of preparedness. By the time we go to the elections, you will know where the elections courts are and who will be running those courts so that we can handle the disputes within stipulated period,” he said.
He asked aspirants to hold joint rallies to send a message of unity and peace to the voters.
Apostles of peace
“I urge the presidential candidates to be the fourteen apostles of peace,” he said.
National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende said the country learnt sad lessons from the 2007/08 post-election chaos and that every Kenyan had a role to ensure the same did not recur.
“Let the citizens and business community stand out from the crowd to make sure peaceful elections are held. Let each of us be part of the team that enables this country hold peaceful elections,” he said.
He said he would be convening a Speakers Kamukunji on Tuesday, at which issues touching on Bills that drive reforms would be discussed and the way forward charted.

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