The Role of Security in Credible Elections and Sustenance of Democracy
By: Dennis Wendo
Worth Noting:
- Democracy is beneficial to people, provided the democratic rule is adopted, and this can only be achieved through periodic elections as stipulated in laws of the land.
- Elections, though considered as a prerequisite for good governance, mere elections without ensuring credibility is tantamount to despotism. An election cannot be judged as credible, free and fair unless the agents of democracy such as; security, media and civil society organizationsperform their constitutional roles.
- Development history bears credence to the maxim that any democratic stateor nation cannot conduct free and fair elections unless security officers, media practitioners and civil society organizations adequately perform their roles.
The closed party primaries have witnessed scattered violence and contestations from various competing candidates within the coalitions of choice. Complaints of the process not being free, fair and in some areas political parties setting up pre-decided results have been the roar.
Political tension is already evident with divisive ethnicity taking shape. The formation of criminal gangs, militias and vigilantes such as the; “pangas, hatupangwingwi, mbogi, genja, taliban, the 42 brothers and manjori” has resurrected, courtesy of a few drivers with ill-intended motives. The groups are now taking control in the city estates and towns across the country, with broad-day muggings, extortion, robberies and circulation of small fire-arms and insecurity on up-scale.
Though working around the clock to ensure that 2022 general elections will be free, fair and credible, IEBC has voiced a concern towards its readiness to transmit electronic results, noting that slightly over 260 polling stations have not been fitted with 3G networks which is essential in the transmission of results after voting. The commission attributes the lack of 3G network to some cases of insecurity in some parts of the country.
“The 2017 elections results were contested by some sections of the political divide; singling out IEBC over results transmission and the demand for the opening of the servers that led to the annulment of the Presidential results”
As we focus towards the August polls, it is salient to take into account the levels of preparedness by central stakeholders in the electoral process to stave off any pre and post election crisis and violence.
Democracy is beneficial to people, provided the democratic rule is adopted, and this can only be achieved through periodic elections as stipulated in laws of the land.
Elections, though considered as a prerequisite for good governance, mere elections without ensuring credibility is tantamount to despotism. An election cannot be judged as credible, free and fair unless the agents of democracy such as; security, media and civil society organizations perform their constitutional roles.
Development history bears credence to the maxim that any democratic state or nation cannot conduct free and fair elections unless security officers, media practitioners and civil society organizations adequately perform their roles.
It is quite unequivocal that developed countries are what they are today simply because everybody or agents in the polity perform their constitutional role to sustain democracy. Failed nations are often known through their inability to choose competent leaders and ability to conduct credible elections. A majority of African states still wallow in a pathetic ocean of bad leadership due to their inept to conduct internationally acceptable elections. Any country cannot witness credible elections to sustain its democracy unless the security is ensured before, during and after elections.
Bad leadership yields insecurity, corruption, and high levels of poverty. The role of security agencies is to ensure safety of lives, properties and peaceful conduct of elections. Security men should be moral in discharging their duties, unfortunately a clique of the security men have been illustrious in truncating the efforts of electorates to choose good leaders and to let the results of the polls reflect the wishes of the voters. Security should be well fed and be given more autonomy to perform their constitutional duties without being induced by candidates, political parties, and government.
Media performs tremendous roles of educating, enlightening, and monitoring elections, however some of these media are biased and discriminative in nature, by all means, the media should jettison all forms of discriminations and improve on their efforts of information, education and communication.
Civil society organizations perform great roles in educating the electorate through
different means. They serve as watch- dogs during elections and should be focused and financially independent.
The IEBC and Communication authority of Kenya should be given the needed full support. All the key players in this election process should be honest, moral and discharge their duties as the constitution dictates for the country to achieve, credible, free and fair election outcome.
The call for national unity and cohesion is a collective responsibility and should not be commanded by a few in the society. Leaders should tread carefully and avoid utterances that can spontaneously sow seeds of division on political, religious or tribal background.
Dennis Wendo
Founder- Integrated Development Network
Email: dambehi@gmail.com
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