A plea to protect and preserve Kenya!

Wanainchi, our beloved country is under siege. There’s no question the elections clearly marred in controversy, with strong public perception and evidence that the process was, flawed and rigged with impunity in favor of the incumbent/ PNU. Neither party is however entirely credible because there were also reports of PNU agents being locked out of polling centers in Raila strongholds. However, thats behind us and we are now staring down the path of civil war following the announcement that the incumbent Kibaki is once again our President.

Violence has erupted in various parts of the country, pitting neighbor versus neighbor, friend versus friend. We know where the road will take us if the situation is not contained. Our peaceful way of life may come to an end as the tribal vitriol, riots, chaos and confusion spiral and escalate into war; setting Kikuyus against everybody else.

This is not acceptable. Bloodshed will not solve the problem; it will simply fuel the incendiary and turn us into another banana republic.

I understand the consternation and betrayal felt in people’s hearts, that the democratic process was subverted at the expediency of a few consequently invalidating the wanainchis inalienable right to freely choose their leader. However, my brothers and sisters, Kenya transcends our egos and ethnic affiliations; we cannot possibly allow ourselves to disintegrate and fall because we have chosen to retaliate and let our self importance foreshadow our conscience and love for the nation.

Let us stand against tyranny and clamor for justice. Let us oppose leaders who have no moral and constitutional authority to govern, who have forcibly thrusted themselves upon us. Let us fervently protest and ensure our voice is heard from the hill crests to the valley troughs.

However, let us do so in peace and condemn wanton acts of violence that threaten to rip the fabric of our nation apart.

“Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won their independence in battle. But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace. It solves no social problem: it merely creates new and more complicated ones. Violence is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding: it seeks to annihilate rather than convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends up defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.”

Let us heed and digest these words of the late great Martin Luther King Jnr..