The Standard ­ Monday
Date: 14.03.2016
Page 15
Article size: 238 cm2
ColumnCM: 52.88
AVE: 126933.33
Irresponsible talk could trigger violence
The role of the opposition in
Kenyans read and heard the the euro bond saga, variously as
Kenya appears to be to oppose innuendo about allocation of the "grand robbery of Kenya" and
every effort the government pro­ "light duties" to former Cabinet a 'national disaster', and invoked
poses, makes or any action the Secretary for Devolution. The in­ no less a person than US Presi­
government takes or proposes to sinuation portrays immoral and dent Obama to intervene.
take, however ludicrous and futile evil­mindedness of people who
The 2007/2008 post­election
the basis is.
the young generation looks up to. violence was fuelled by utteranc­
According to Susan Munroe, a
Ms Waiguru's issues have es which described the elections
Canada news expert, "The role of since become murkier, but the results as 'stolen', calls for mass
an opposition party is to oppose bitter taste the opposition's ap­ action and threats to make the
the government by criticising its proach has left behind will not country "ungovernable". The
memories of that violence are still
policies, suggesting alternatives help disentangle the problem.
and keeping the public informed
The agencies established by fresh and hurting in peoples'
about issues relating to govern­ law to play the role that the oppo­ minds.
ment administration."
sition has saddled itself with
That conflict was only man­
Other opinions assert that the should be left to investigate, once aged, not resolved. It is merely la­
primary function of the opposi­ the red flag has been raised.
tent, awaiting a trigger. Conflict
tion is to offer credible alterna­
Civil language would achieve management analysis experts will
tives. The Opposition may ques­ more desired results without warn that the experience from
tion the government of the day leaving bitterness in its wake. the 2007­2008 PEV would come
and hold it accountable to the Confrontational opposition in­ back readily with a vengeance,
public. It is responsible in up­ vites confrontational responses. this time more hardened and
holding the best interests of the
There is nothing wrong with more difficult to manage. Ken­
people of the country.
raising the red flag or whis­ yans who suffered loss of lives of
They have to ensure the Gov­ tle­blowing where impropriety is loved ones, who were seriously
ernment does not take steps that suspected, and leaving the agen­
injured, permanently disabled,
might have negative implications cies mandated with the responsi­ lost their property and were dis­
on the people. Criticism should bilities to investigate and estab­ placed, have not, and will not be
positively contribute to the na­ lish the facts. That would not healed, as they are constantly re­
tional interest.
cause embarrassment when facts
Use of abusive and inciting disprove the allegation.
language is no less a trigger of
The standard gauge railway
conflict than hate speech. project, the primary schools lap­
One wonders where abusive lead­ top project; both of which are well
ers would fit in Eleanor Roos­ underway, are projects the Oppo­
evelt's categorisation of minds ­ sition raised much dust about
which either discuss ideas, events with no factual basis.
or people.
The Opposition has described
minded of the violence through
irresponsible talk.
The Opposition is already
beating war drums, predicting
rigging of an election that is 17
months away.
They are vowing action, re­
gardless of the verdict of the es­
tablished legal mechanisms.
'They will not accept anything
less than free and fair elections',
this dangerous.
Persistent abusive statements
and sometimes angry responses
are sure triggers of the violence
experienced in the past episodic
conflicts.
Nothing should be spared by
all to avoid violence in our coun­
try if we are determined to avoid
joining the league of war­torn
countries in the region.
Mr Kimani is a consultant in
Conflict Management and a
Counselling Psychologist
[email protected]
Conflict
manage­
ment
analysis
experts
will warn
that the
experience
from the
2007­2008
PEV would
come back
readily
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