Saturday, December 29, 2007

Uncalled for delays in announcing election results

The Electoral Commission has suspended announcing the results of Kenya’s presidential elections in order to verify claims of rigging "to avoid chaos". This was because it was late in the evening, therefore dark. Darkness or daylight, whatever the case may be, do not deter any violence as was evident with the nascent lawlessness and destruction yesterday in the few places it was reported around the country. If the results are ready and reasonably non-contestable, then it is the duty of the ECK to duly announce them. I am of the school of thought that any further delay results in greater anxiety, therefore the propensity for even more violence. Being away from Kenya, I see alarmist reporting in the media, whether CNN or whatever other media houses there are giving news coverage. In fact, were it not for afew Kenyan bloggers at home posting information on the web, I would be a deeply worried man by now. This situation is worsened by conflicting information from local news rooms. Despite the ECK’s efforts, it is unfortunate that there is strong evidence of widespread tampering with ballots. The fact that results from just afew constituencies will be re-evaluated does not validate the rest of them all. Should we resign ourselves to being led by a government elected through a seriously flawed electoral process? I don't think so! The commish had better start finding ways to clean up this mess.

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