We must closely watch politicians to ensure peaceful polls in August

When people talk about political violence, especially those who have been shielded from its more inimical effects, they mainly remember the cataclysm that nearly destroyed this country between December 2007 and January 2008.

Most may not be aware that this form of violence has been part of our political experience after every election period for close to three decades, the only exception being 2002 and 2013.

Since politically-instigated violence cannot be in our DNA, why is it that we seem to be doomed to repeat the same mindlessness whenever a relatively small number of Kenyans are seeking power or striving to retain it?

HIRING GOONS
It is not as if there has been a dearth of studies telling us exactly what drives us into paroxysms of anger against our compatriots, knowing that this is always a lose-lose situation for the majority while a tiny elite takes home the spoils.

In the past month alone, several instance of violence have been recorded during which contenders for political office have used thugs and other undesirables to create chaos with the aim of intimidating their rivals or to make their views heard.

Further afield, the violence in Baringo and Laikipia has not been all about pasture.

This country is on the cusp of a very hotly-contested election whose results could go either way in the next four months.

INCENDIARY MESSAGES

A coalition of opposition parties is determined to uproot the incumbent government, and, as is to be expected, the Jubilee administration is determined to retain the status quo with a margin that will leave no one in doubt.

That is all right, for competitive politics is the essence of democracy.

In fact, this country would benefit tremendously if there was a clear-cut winner in the first round and was not forced to go into a presidential run-off, for that is when things are bound to unravel.

But in the meantime, we have started being subjected to violent language that may be a harbinger of worse things to come.

WINNERS AND LOSERS
Political violence is not just about hiring thugs to disrupt other people’s political rallies.

It is not just about using fisticuffs to settle political differences, or even financing murderers to eliminate potential rivals.

In my view, what is worse is that some politicians have been planting the seeds of anarchy in people’s minds for too long. That is most worrisome.

For instance, some people in Jubilee cannot contemplate the possibility of losing election due to an inexplicable and hubristic sense of entitlement.

Thus they habitually employ abusive language against their opponents, needlessly turning them into lifelong enemies.

MIND LANGUAGE

On the other hand, there are those who have all along insisted their opponents would rig the election.

They are still at it, thus giving the impression that they are not ready to lose, and if they do, all hell will break loose.

By so doing, they are in a sense, declaring war on their own people.

Let us be realistic. Election violence starts early in this country, and the real enemies of the people, also known as politicians, are always to blame.

This is the time when they should mind their language most, for tensions are already simmering and about to reach boiling point.

MAIZE CARTELS
At first, it appeared as though protests by two diehard critics of the Jubilee administration on the matter of maize imports was an insensitive attempt to deny food to thousands of Kenyans in the grip of starvation.

When Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and legislator Johana Ng’eno expressed misgivings about the decision to allow duty-free maize imports, the natural reaction by many was to wonder how these two could play politics with people’s lives.

But upon reflection, it became clear that the two gentlemen were on to something.

To allow such imports without any checks whatsoever would be to license the country’s notorious grain cartels to ruin local grain farmers.

DISTORT MARKET

If the minister had indicated how much maize would be allowed to enter our borders, nobody would question the decision.

But as matters stand, there is a good chance that cheap imports will again be allowed to distort market forces.

Sometimes, the best intentions can lead to unintended consequences with deleterious effects.

Maybe some kind of quota should be imposed on would-be importers, and the prices fixed, the only way to protect grain farmers.

In some cases, protectionist policies are desirable for the common good.

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