Elections in Kenya pass peacefully
By Evelyn Gathuru
On Wednesday August 4th 2010, Kenyans went to the polls in a referendum to decide whether or not we would adopt the proposed new constitution.
Although I was confident that we would have a peaceful process, there was still that nagging little voice of fear and doubt; like many Kenyans, I had heard the disturbing news of voter intimidation and unrest in certain parts of the country.
Media Response
The media was heavily criticised for the way they covered Kenya’s 2007/2008 post election violence, with some people arguing that the media served to escalate the violence.
On Wednesday morning, I was therefore very keen to see how the media would report on this historical moment. I’m happy to say they did an excellent job! Their key message was one of unity and peace despite political differences.
This was a ‘coming of age’ moment for Kenya. We learnt that we can have a healthy debate- one where we disagree and challenge each other’s points of view in a respectful manner and allow democracy to prevail.
Peaceful voting
On Wednesday afternoon, I made my way to the polling station, noting the quiet atmosphere around Nairobi’s suburbs. At the polling station there were friendly attendants to direct people.
The new electronic voter registration which included a picture of the registered voter made it easier to verify the voter’s identity. Within five minutes, I had completed my civic duty.
As I drove back home, I noted that many of the outdoor pubs offering the Kenyan favourite grilled meat (nyama choma) were busy. It seemed that most people had voted earlier and gone on to enjoy the rest of the day with their family and friends.
Peace and calm prevailed even as the results of the referendum were announced and most people returned to work the following day. From this experience I am confident that the next elections in 2012 will also be peaceful.
Leave Comment
Comments