4am in Kenya and across the country election officials of the Independent Interim Election Commission are waking up at the polling stations where in two hours time Kenyans will stream in ready to vote for or against a new constitution. These IIEC officials spelt at the polling stations watched over by at least 2 policemen to ensure that the election materials they collected yesterday evening were not tampered with overnight.
The last time Kenyans voted, on the 27th of December 2007 brought one of my proudest moments as a Kenyan. Watching the queues of people patiently waiting for hours to cast their ballots and choose their representatives for the next 5 years without drama, even in the face of fierce provocation was special. The next two months after that day brought my most heart breaking moments as a Kenyan as brother turned on brother, sister on sister and brother on sister.
But I believe in Kenya. I believe that the true picture of Kenya was December 27th 2007 not the two months that followed. Yesterday as I went around asking people if they are going to vote, the vast majority said yes they were. Some are making huge sacrifices, travelling over 400kms overnight from Nairobi to their polling stations. Others devoting a whole day to the exercise, a big sacrifice for someone who earns money on a daily basis surviving hand to mouth. Actually the only people I know who have said they will not vote are relatively well to do members of the so called Kenyan “intelligentsia” often justifying their choice by misquoting a random ancient philosopher.
We’ll be out there voting and watching and thanking God for our country.
Vote!
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