Kenyans are reportedly expressing outrage after the chairman
of the Electoral Commissioner told a commission of inquiry that he was forced
by security forces to declare President Mwai Kibaki winner of the last disputed
elections. Samuel Kivuitu told justice Kriegler commission of inquiry that as he walked out of the room where he
announced the results, a team of army officers surrounded him. Kivuitu adds
that he was shocked when he arrived at the State House to find the stage set
for the swearing-in minutes after announcing the results. The justice Krigler
commission is mandated to look into what transpired at the disputed elections,
which led to the loss of lives and property.
Some political analysts say Kivuitu's
revelation could worsen the already existing suspicion and tension in the unity
government. Michael Tiampati is a Kenyan political analyts. He tells reporter
Peter Clottey from Naivasha in Kenya that a crime was committed against
Kenyans, which should be addressed.
"I
feel that this confirms the fears that has been expressed by many Kenayns
because the elections has pointed to a different dimension, and just out of no
where it was turnd around to point to another dimension. And I think this
confirms the fears that many Kenyans had that the process was manipulated and a
lot of pressure exerted on the electoral commission by certain forces to ensure
that the perceived winner would be Kibaki. The outrage is justified because it
is akeen to daylight robeery because it goes against the principles of
democracy," Tiampati pointed out.
He
described as a criminal act reports of a possible kidbapp of the chairman of
the electoral commissioner to declare Kibaki winner of the December 27 2007
general elections.
"My
personal opinioon is that first of all if that is the way things happened then
it is outrightly criminal, a crime perpatuated by security machinery, and it
goes to confirm that the bonafide and well meaning Kenayns were robbed off
their democratic rights. And I think this is an issue that might kind og make
people raise certain fundametal issues regaridng the justification for maybe
Kibaki beng the president," he said.
Tiampati
said Kivuitu's revelation could undermine the current coallition government.
"This
does not really auger well for the current government as it stands because it
kind of really discredits the presidency that Kibaki has been enjoying
currently. So, although a lot of water has gone under the bridge since the
election, but this will kind of open new wounds. I don't not want to think that
many Kenyans of good will just let it pass without seeking justice," Tiampati
noted.
He
said the revelation would have a serious repercussion on Kenya's internal
political dynamics.
"Definitely,
this has great implications in terms of the future political scenario in Kenya
because many Kenyans even today feel that something wrong did happen and with
this statement by Kivuitu then it goes to confirm tose fears that actually a
crime was committed against Kenyans that thought to bring change through their
vote," he said.
Tiampati
said the future will tell what rammifications could befall Kenya's coallition
government after Kivuitu's revelation.
"regarding
the survival of the coallition government, I think it's only time that will
tell beause the downside to this is that probably thise that feel they were
robbed off their win may start pushing really hard and kind describing their
colleagues on the PNU (Party of National Unity) side as these aer people who
ascended to power through crime. And I think because Kenya is politically
polarised, and it will really make people to perceive or even to have this
believe that that will question the legitimacy of Kibaki's presidency. And it
is only a matter of time that we start seeing the unfolding scenario that shall
be informed by this revelation," Tiampati pointed out.