A critical look at a major
political party, ODM, conduct towards their party officials’ nomination reveals
that the democratic project which began its renewal two decades ago appears to
be in quagmire or better still, in crisis. There seems to be a dangerous
re-institutionalization of autocratic and authoritarian not regime but
political parties masked in a democratic garb. Apparently elections and the
electoral process constitute the major victims in this tendency towards
democratic retreat.
In Kenya the precepts, structures
and processes of elections are mostly characterized by reckless manipulations,
politics of brinkmanship and subversion, no wonder the much touted Elections
Act and Political Parties Act is much ado about nothing ,how else, would you
explain an overnight increase of nominations fees to candidates? Already
allocated seats to sacred party honchos in the name of new found term in the
political dictionary ‘negotiated democracy’? In other words,the tendencyin the
present conjuncture,is to inveigh elections and regard it less as a
catalyst,but more as a devalued and a fading shadow of the democracy.
Karl Marx, writing on the Jewish
question in 1843, contends that institutions and advances of liberal democracy,
which include elections,must be taken seriously as they constitute the process
of political emancipation necessary to achieving human emancipation and
liberation. Marx reasoned that these processes and institutions amount to a big
leap forward, needless to point out, that elections are important because they
allow the oppressed classes to put the question of alternative ideologies on
the agenda as such it’s the oppressed class that continues to be downtrodden if
political parties scorn and make a mockery of the election processes.
The question which then arises:
What criteria underscore meaningful elections? I would argue that the political
context of elections must not be such which mystifies the essence of elections:
elections must not serve as a passport for the tyranny of the majority which
consequently erodes democracy. In essence while the political context of a
democracy may ensure majority rule,it must also guarantee minority rights and
the due process.
The environmental conditions must
be conducive to and supportive of meaningful elections;socio-economic and
political issues, that is, creating a relatively well-being and social welfare
of the people.Absence to this leads to ‘clientilist vote’, in which the electorates are a captive situation,mainly
trading off their votes for token material incentives from patrons.Votes and
elections become commodified.
Although multi-partyism and
elections has fast become the norm, no doubt its form and content is
questionable,as recent developments suggests that elections appear to be only
an expedient political exercise for capturing instruments of power.Thus the
dominant practice is that political parties organize electoral ‘coup de’ tat’
which ensures their ‘selection’ in the name of free and fair elections, probably
this answers the choice of nomination date for all political coalition(to lock
out credible complains and tame members) and political parties, in addition, the
tactics employed include, stifling the opponent and reducing them to docility, covertly
corrupting the electoral process or election rigging.This conduct estimates
what has been termed as ‘liberal Machiavellian elections.’
In conclusion, the picture of the
future of elections and democracy painted is that of pessimism, however, the
focus should be on the nature of multi-party elections being consummated, presently
the focus is on the form, rather than the content, thus any ‘kangaroo’ elections
is permissible and applauded, making sense of election will require changes in:
First, promoting constitutionalism and the rule of law.This will guarantee some
relative fairness and openness in electoral matters. Secondly, ensuring the
neutrality and relative autonomy of the institutional infrastructure of
elections, Viz-the electoral body, the judiciary,the press and the
police.Thirdly, empowering the civil society in order to serve as a purveyor of
democratic values and practices in the state. Fourthly, augmenting the material poverty of the people ,which often promote electoral
‘clientelism and servitude’; and finally addressing the issue of the crisis of
accumulation which makes the capture of state power,a priceless political
project,for which all tactics,fair and foul,are permissible.
Benard Moseti
Post-graduate student,
Institute of Development Studies, UON.
