Perennial Elections are Desperate Attempts of Democracy to Whitewash its Failures
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner of the 2017 General Election held on Tuesday August 8th. Mr. Kenyatta won a second term after he garnered 8,203,290 votes representing 54.27% of the casted votes. The results were however disputed by Raila Odinga the National Super Alliance Presidential candidate who on Thursday 17th August 2017 filed a petition against Kenyatta’s victory over allegations that the election was rigged. After the declaration of the presidential results, violent protests erupted leading to the tragic loss of 24 lives. Both local and international observers praised the election as free, fair and transparent.
Hizb ut Tahrir Kenya is saddened with the loss of lives and wishes to mention the following:
We wish to emphasize that the victory in any democratic elections does not benefit the common-man but the same egocentric politicians. The reality is that the problems facing Kenya; that include rampant corruption, tribalism, and privatization of the public resources cannot not be remedied by Uhuru Kenyatta’s or Raila Odinga’s victory since both are embracing the erroneous capitalist policies which is the reason for all the myriads of chaos. Politicians under the shade of democracy including the so-called ‘mature’ democratic countries do not work for the common citizens.
Democratic elections are not free and fair as depicted instead the few elites always have the final say in deciding everything and not those who cast the votes. The electorates do not solely elect winners in democratic elections instead; they are simply selected by the few capitalist corporates who indeed want to protect their interests. We say the slogan: ‘free, fair and transparent elections’ is just a trump card of the West to give a life span to their failed system of democracy by ensuring their local agents ascend into power at the expense of the masses who have despaired and are yearning for genuine change.
Conducting perennial elections is an attempt by Democrats in whipping emotions on changes to resuscitate it and hoodwink the people. That confirms the statement by the said protectors of Universal Suffrage of who in reality are stooges of the Capitalists whose primary role is to covertly-cover the shams of Democracy that has plunged Kenya and Africa at large into perpetual conflicts…
We conclude by calling upon Islamic groups, religious leaders and scholars to collectively embrace the propagation of justice of Islam by championing it as a comprehensive ideology that encompass both political and socio-economic systems that emanate from Allah (swt).
Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya
REF: 11 / 1438 AH
17/08/2017 CE
Thursday, 25 Dhul Qi’dah 1438 AH