SIR: The final verdict from Kenya’s Supreme Court may have come and gone, the lessons from the elections are instructive and relevant particularly for Nigeria and INEC in the conduct of 2023 general elections.
Kenya with a population of over 50 million people has shown the way for us in Nigeria that Western democratic principles and values can be respected and sustained by the people irrespective of their ethnic, religious, cultural affinity and bias.
Instructive was the validation of the election results by the Supreme Court and it was far and wide accepted, in part, because they were substantiated by the Nairobi-based Elections Observation Group (ELOG), Kenya’s largest election monitoring coalition. ELOG deployed 5,000 observers in all 47 counties (states), covering 46,229 polling stations. The lesson is that it allowed Kenyan media to run their own tallies and release provisional results 72 hours before the IEBC- the electoral body. The proactive media initiative is worth replicating for 2023 General Elections in Nigeria. The real – time online streaming of results allowed the political parties, civil society organisations, and ordinary citizens to trail the unfolding results.
The election in Kenya is also a deep reflection of a nation that believes in the principle of the rule of law and the institutions of the state charged with the conduct of elections and, above all, in the sanctity of the ballot box and the inviolability of the people in electing a credible leader who may not be popular with existing political structure of godfathers as characterised by the recruitment into public office and service in Nigeria.
Expectedly, the electoral process was led decidedly in a transparent manner and the democratic climate was better than previous elections in Kenya. Therefore, INEC must be seen to be transparent in line the Electoral Law as amended.
Particularly heart-warming is the election of seven women as governors in the counties (states) of Homa Bay; Nakuru; Embu; Machakos; Kirinyaga; Meru and Kwale respectively. Indeed, the elections of women have broadened our understanding of gender parity in political participation. This reinforces exceptional nature of women’s heroism in contemporary gender and development issues in Africa and it would forever inspire the younger generation of women particularly in Nigeria for public leadership.
The transparent manner in which the over 22 million registered voters cast their ballots in 46,229 polling stations across the 47 counties (states) is worthy of note. It is a clear demonstration of democracy at work in Africa. Therefore, INEC must learn from the logistics and management acumen of Kenya to deliver exceptional elections in 2023.
Fundamentally, Nigeria must choose the path of sustainable democracy and peace through credible elections in 2023. Indeed Kenya has shown the way and Nigeria should follow!
- Samuel Orovwuje & Armstrong Ongera,
Lagos.