#KenyaKwanza

Image from Human Rights Watch

Some people still have terrible nightmares from such images; people raising a Panga as they stand silhouetted against a raging fire. Some survivors still hear the screams of their families as their villages were razed to the ground. There are many people out there still living with the pain of 2007, when the post-electoral violence made Kikuyus and Luos kill each other just because the president came from one tribe and the other tribe thought that the votes were rigged. It is sad to see how human beings keep on doing this to each other not realizing that the only math of war is subtraction. War represents the only equation where negative multiplied with negative will still give a negative answer.

#Kenyans_on_twitter (AKA #KOT) have been active on social media discussing the campaigns as elections are coming up on March 4. Recently Kenya held first-ever presidential debate which had Kenyans across the world glued to their screens -be it TV, computer, or phone -as it was streamed live online as well. There are 8 tributes, each vying for the Presidential chair. Now for those non-Kenyans, it’s important to note down that one of the tributes- Uhuru Kenyatta – is facing trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. The crime he is being accused of is orchestrating the violence after the 2007 poll.

Now he’s running for president #only_in_Kenya.

But these are only allegations, we are in no position to judge. Let the ICC do their job and come up with a conclusion, and whatever the verdict we would accept it.

And that’s the attitude we have to carry into the elections this time. Whoever wins should be accepted by all. Online, there are many people encouraging Kenyans to learn from the last elections and vote peacefully this time around. There was even a message from President Obama for Kenyans to stand together, as a nation, for peace and progress, and for the rule of law. As a blogger, I’m sending my message out as well; vote peacefully, select the leader who is willing to go the extra mile to solve the issues that the average Kenyan go through, and leave tribalism behind.

You can follow the peace campaign hashtages #StandforKenya #KenyaKwanza #Neveragain among others. Happy voting!