Never Again…

Written by John on May 27, 2025

The axe forgets, but the tree remembers. We have seen it and experienced it before. It was not a ‘cool’ experience.

Elections are meant to be a celebration of democracy; a time when citizens choose their leaders peacefully and freely. In Kenya, as on the rest of the continent, voting is largely determined by ethnicity, kinship and neighborhood, and political parties are organized along ethnic lines. In the rural areas, where all three tend to coincide, the result is that voting at the polling station level generally will be in favor of one particular candidate, with the decision effectively a collective one, often enforced by violence. Only in the major urban areas is the coincidence of family and neighborhood broken.

The 2007/2008 post-election violence in Kenya was not only a political issue but also a human tragedy. The 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya had severe consequences, including widespread loss of life, displacement, and property damage. The violence also impacted the economy, social fabric, and the mental well-being of individuals, especially children. According to The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), more than 1,200 Kenyans were reported killed, thousands more injured, over 300,000 people displaced and around 42,000 houses and many businesses were looted or destroyed. A significant number of cases of sexual violence were also reported.

This war impacted Kenya at large; socially, historically, politically and economically. The citizens begin to lose faith in democracy when elections are associated with bloodshed instead of progress. The 2007/2008 post-election violence in Kenya taught us what fear tastes like-dry, bitter, and constant. But it also taught us the value of peace. This tragedy will be told not to bring sadness, but to remind us that even after the darkest night, the sky can shine again.

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It is our hope that history does not repeat itself. Peaceful elections are possible if leaders act responsibly, institutions remain neutral, and citizens choose dialogue over violence. Youths must refuse to be used as tools of chaos. Instead, they should be ambassadors of unity and peace.

Civic education, transparent vote counting, and timely justice can help restore confidence in the electoral process which is controlled by the (IEBC) in Kenya.

Post-election violence leaves behind wounds that take years to heal. As a society, we must learn from the past and commit to peace. Let every future election be a moment if hope, not horror… A STEP FORWARD, NOT BACKWARD.

ARTICLE BY OBADIAH ….