“My religion is based on truth and non-violence.  Truth is my God.  Non violence is the means of realizing Him.” By Mahatma Gandhi. 

The run up to and holding of the coming general elections may very well answer the question who were the masterminds and sponsors of the post election mayhem of 2008. 

Western Province was blotted in the post election violence of 2008 and the Luhyia Community’s long cherished honour as a people of Mulembe (Peace) tarnished. 

Western Province has verily believed that the authors, masterminds of the violence that saw members of settler communities killed, maimed and their property burned and damaged were imported from outside the Province.  History will in its own sweet time lay bare the authors, the masterminds and those who engineered the post election violence of 2008 in Western Province. 

Western Province must go to the coming general elections with outmost vigilance, hawk-eyed alertness so that nobody infiltrates the Province from without to again make it a theatre of violence.  The people of Western Province must be extra cautious as the law enforcement agencies in the 2008 post election violence were themselves partisan and facilitated the violence by turning a blind eye to the violence which they could have stamped out or prevented. 

West fm states that the events that took place at the funeral of the late Mzee Jason Omwera Muhoro father to Nairobi Mayor Mr. George Aladwa in Vihiga County on 05/05/2012 were clear manifestations that the politics of violence is still rife in Kenya notwithstanding the passage of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. 

West fm states that it is imperative that the masterminds and perpetrators of the despicable mayhem at the funeral of the late Mzee Muhoro be brought to book.  The Provincial Police Officer of Western Province must take action on the matter otherwise to let the criminality exhibited on 05/05/2012 go unchallenged by the law will be the first license for political violence in the coming general elections.  The events that took place on 05/05/2012 are well documented on camera by the media houses that were present and the police cannot claim they need evidence.  Indeed, there were GSU officers who can identify the perpetrators of the violence and mayhem. 

West fm challenges the religious organizations, civil society and all stakeholders in the region to stand resolute against politics of violence, intimidation, abuse, ill manners for the honour and dignity of the people of Western Province. 

The culture that has been ingrained since independence that violence is a tool of political advancement and intimidating the electorate to vote for certain candidates is not permissible under the new Constitution.  The International Criminal Courts prosecutors and investigators ought to focus on Kenya upto the coming general elections and they certainly will pick the traits, patterns, modus operandi and actors who perpetrated the 2008 post election violence. 

The reconstitution of the Kenya Police Force must be accelerated so that the new administrative structures envisaged by the Constitution can retrain the law enforcement agencies and radically change their incorrigible mindset that labours under the outdated perception that political hooliganism that breaks the law is excusable and more so when perpetrated in the presence of politicians whether they be Ministers or otherwise.  Crime is crime regardless of whether or not it is committed in the name of politicians, public servants. 

Western Province must reject and shame politics and politicians who thrive on violence.  The province must stand for politics of decorum integrity and good manners.  The law enforcement agencies must discharge their constitutional duties without favour and fear.  And if they persist in defaulting to prosecute merchants of political violence then civic minded citizens of the region should take them to the Constitutional Court for failing the chapter six thresholds of leadership and integrity that govern them as state officers.  Shame on the political leaders who condone or orchestrate political violence. Western Province shall not vote for any politician who is a patron of violence. 

WEST FM EDITORIAL©2012