2008 Woodie Awards
No justice in Kenya due to flawed government
International pressure is necessary for improvement and safety of the Kenyan people
Atieno Oduor
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: Editorial
The world has been greeted with shock at the horrific events unfolding in Kenya; the country is marred with bloodshed, thanks to its perverted leadership.
Kenya, known for its stability amidst troubled neighbors, is now suffering from the poor judgment of its self-seeking ruling elite.
Just at the crucial moment when the nation was making yet another positive stride towards democracy, came the incumbent President's decision to hijack the nation's presidency through a forced electoral verdict, a fatal decision that has plunged the country into weeks of post-election violence.
What was initially a spontaneous outburst against an electoral fraud has gathered momentum of its own and spiraled into a high-intensity tribal conflict.
Ultimately, the marauding mobs are merely finishing what Kenya's leadership started.
Ironically, the Army and the police are busy locking away terror gangs, while the nation's main perpetuators of injustice - the politicians - walk free.
They continue to unleash social, political and economic violence unchallenged against the masses.Â
At the height of Kenya's crisis, one would have expected that leadership of the country would be concerned with the magnitude of the human losses, but instead it was heartbreaking for the discerning majority of Kenyans that their leadership was engrossed in a bitter zero-sum game for political power.
It appears they would rather lead an empty nation than compromise on their political aspirations - which have failed to protect or provide for innocent Kenyans.
While the current mediation process, led by Kofi Annan, aims at reconciling differences at the elitist level, there is yet to be a mediation process between ordinary Kenyans and the leadership. For too long Kenyans have been subjected to mediocre leadership which denies their basic human rights.
Even after numerous elections deemed free and fair, the majority of Kenyans continue to fair worse with each subsequent year. There is a catastrophic trend of increased mass impoverishment.
Despite lauded economic growth, most Kenyans toil night and day in depressed living standards. A lifetime of poverty has left most families unable to stand on their own feet.
Traditional family support structures continue to crumble thereby placing a heavy burden on the few working Kenyans.
The extent of poverty in Kenya has manifested itself in recent crisis with the poorest neighborhoods serving as the hot-bed of elitist politically-instigated tribal violence.
Already suffering from economic fragmentation, disease and a basket-full of imposed social injustices, it took only one wrong move for the nation to explode. Hence, in the on-going reconciliatory efforts questions of leadership aggression, excesses and incompetence against the people need to be addressed.
The governance structure conditions the majority to be powerless victims of the government. It is a system in which great privilege is given to those determined not to bow to the rule of law. A system where the security exists as a disciplinary agency for those who agitate against the interests of the ruling government.
Civilians are expected to be passive spectators of social injustices unleashed by the status quo.
There cannot be peace where a few individuals walk away with mass murder.
The laments of innocent civilians are ignored unless there is international pressure. It is a flawed system that facilitates elite opportunism and aggression.
Kenyans, like the rest of Africa, realize that in the long run things cannot continue as they are, key national institutions need to be reformed.
It is imperative that the judiciary should be an independent institution whereby the appointment of justices of the supreme court are subject to parliamentary and legislative vetting in the spirit of checks and balances.Â
In order for justice to reign, the executive branch should no longer be able to monopolize sensitive state institutions such as the judiciary, media and the electoral commission through the unfettered appointment of cronies.
Atieno Oduor is a senior at the university. His viewpoints do not necessarily represent those of the Review staff. Please send comments to atieno@udel.edu.
Kenya, known for its stability amidst troubled neighbors, is now suffering from the poor judgment of its self-seeking ruling elite.
Just at the crucial moment when the nation was making yet another positive stride towards democracy, came the incumbent President's decision to hijack the nation's presidency through a forced electoral verdict, a fatal decision that has plunged the country into weeks of post-election violence.
What was initially a spontaneous outburst against an electoral fraud has gathered momentum of its own and spiraled into a high-intensity tribal conflict.
Ultimately, the marauding mobs are merely finishing what Kenya's leadership started.
Ironically, the Army and the police are busy locking away terror gangs, while the nation's main perpetuators of injustice - the politicians - walk free.
They continue to unleash social, political and economic violence unchallenged against the masses.Â
At the height of Kenya's crisis, one would have expected that leadership of the country would be concerned with the magnitude of the human losses, but instead it was heartbreaking for the discerning majority of Kenyans that their leadership was engrossed in a bitter zero-sum game for political power.
It appears they would rather lead an empty nation than compromise on their political aspirations - which have failed to protect or provide for innocent Kenyans.
While the current mediation process, led by Kofi Annan, aims at reconciling differences at the elitist level, there is yet to be a mediation process between ordinary Kenyans and the leadership. For too long Kenyans have been subjected to mediocre leadership which denies their basic human rights.
Even after numerous elections deemed free and fair, the majority of Kenyans continue to fair worse with each subsequent year. There is a catastrophic trend of increased mass impoverishment.
Despite lauded economic growth, most Kenyans toil night and day in depressed living standards. A lifetime of poverty has left most families unable to stand on their own feet.
Traditional family support structures continue to crumble thereby placing a heavy burden on the few working Kenyans.
The extent of poverty in Kenya has manifested itself in recent crisis with the poorest neighborhoods serving as the hot-bed of elitist politically-instigated tribal violence.
Already suffering from economic fragmentation, disease and a basket-full of imposed social injustices, it took only one wrong move for the nation to explode. Hence, in the on-going reconciliatory efforts questions of leadership aggression, excesses and incompetence against the people need to be addressed.
The governance structure conditions the majority to be powerless victims of the government. It is a system in which great privilege is given to those determined not to bow to the rule of law. A system where the security exists as a disciplinary agency for those who agitate against the interests of the ruling government.
Civilians are expected to be passive spectators of social injustices unleashed by the status quo.
There cannot be peace where a few individuals walk away with mass murder.
The laments of innocent civilians are ignored unless there is international pressure. It is a flawed system that facilitates elite opportunism and aggression.
Kenyans, like the rest of Africa, realize that in the long run things cannot continue as they are, key national institutions need to be reformed.
It is imperative that the judiciary should be an independent institution whereby the appointment of justices of the supreme court are subject to parliamentary and legislative vetting in the spirit of checks and balances.Â
In order for justice to reign, the executive branch should no longer be able to monopolize sensitive state institutions such as the judiciary, media and the electoral commission through the unfettered appointment of cronies.
Atieno Oduor is a senior at the university. His viewpoints do not necessarily represent those of the Review staff. Please send comments to atieno@udel.edu.
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