Give Kenyan's Their Rights Back

Kenya has been a role-model for East Africa in the past. It has been a stable haven for refugees from neighboring war-torn countries. The people are educated, the economy improving and tourism accelerating at a frantic pace. Nairobi is becoming an international hot-spot and metropolitan city.

That is why the recent political fiasco is so difficult to believe. If it is happening in Kenya, the star-pupil of East Africa, is any country safe?

The government of Kenya needs to continue to be a role-model for democracy for all of Africa. It has a responsibility to deliver on the guaranteed rights of its citizens.

The citizens are victims right now in the age-old struggle for power. The Kenyan’s only fault was a belief in the democracy they were assured. Now it has fallen apart. It seems in this circumstance, the government has put them in a position where they have no choice but to fight for their democracy, or else it could be lost forever in a precedent of dictatorship.

Polling day had a record turnout. In Kenya, the voting goes slowly, one person at a time. Lines twisted around and people stood for hours in the sun and in the rain. Aside from a few isolated incidents, people were extremely peaceful and enthusiastic to take part in this democracy. They were proud of their country and the process.

Enter the power-hungry government. EU reports insinuate fraud. Voter turnout of over 100% seems slightly suspicious. Maybe it was due to the opposition, maybe it was due to the government, but the real fault lies in the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) not pausing and recounting the contested constituencies.

Whether the rigging was governmental or oppositional, Kenyan’s rights have been severely violated in the events that have taken place after elections.

The draconian media black-out by the government has a chilling 1984 feel to it. There is something oppressive about watching president Mwai Kibaki being sworn in, jumping to the highly contested opposition Raila Odinga’s reaction, then blacking out to a re-run of “Everybody Loves Raymond” a few words into the speech.

The government has been dogmatically blocking citizen’s rights to question this election. By refusing to allow Odinga’s peace rally in Uhuru park they are feeding the fire of oppression.

Sure, that the rally would remain peaceful with so many people is doubtful, but it is also likely that by trying to prevent it, far more people will be killed in clashes with police and in the long-run than if the people were allowed to meet. Tear-gassing people who come holding branches symbolizing peace seems unacceptable.

This rally is a case where the process is more important than the results. Whether the rally would accomplish something or not is not the issue. Kenyan’s must have a venue for a peaceful public meeting to exercise their rights.

These people want peace. They have done nothing wrong and they are being oppressed. They should be angry. Their democracy has turned into a dictatorship. They are not even allowed to dissent. By stifling Kenyan’s rights, the government can almost ensure themselves of more chaos.

For a democracy to function it needs dialogue. Odinga has not yet been given that. Political parties must speak peacefully with a mediator and come to a solution. As they continue to refuse to do this, they are perpetuating the suffering of the people they are supposedly there to serve. If Kibaki and Odinga cared about their people, they would engage in such dialogue.

With this blatant disregard for the Kenyan’s rights, I don’t just fear for Kenya, I fear for East Africa, whose refugees come to Kenya to seek relief, as a whole. If a country as stable as Kenya cannot uphold democratic standards and citizen’s rights, to whom is a country who looks up to them going to turn to for hope? If Kenyan’s follow the democratic process, doing everything that is asked of them and still it is in vain, how long will they continue to be able to believe in their government?