On Kenyan Path

Economically speaking Kenya was one of the few success stories in Africa. It was galloping in fast forward gear towards becoming a developed country leaving behind a stigma of named as third world economy. Then on 27 December, 2007 elections were held to choose between incumbent president Mowai Kabaki and opposition leader Roala Odenga. Large scale rigging were reported but Kenyan election commission under the influence of President Kabaki declared Mr Kabaki as a winner. However opposition refused to accept the results and started agitation against incumbent Kabaki. Agitation soon engulfed Kenya and Mr Kabaki banned television networks, radio stations and newspapers and ordered law enforcing personnels to fire at demonstrators with live ammunition. Up until now 1500 Kenyans have lost their lives and 250,000 rendered homeless. Violence has not shown any signs of abetting and economy has taken a nose dive. There have been no trading in stock exchange, massive devaluation of national currency and factories and other business centres are closing down. Kenya is facing a severe crisis of its survival as a country and people are fearing a break up of Kenya into two entities. Economic pundits are warning against Kenya becoming bankrupt if no further measures were taken to bail out its economy. It all started with one man's desire to rig elections in his favour.

Kenyans who are forced to see their prosperous country disintegrating in front of their own eyes do not deserve this. They are suffering for a crime they did not commit. This calamity has befallen upon them because one person thinks he is indispensable and his hunger of power is insatiable.

If we compare Pakistan with Kenya, the similarities are alarming. Today Pakistan is facing same political crisis. There are three major players in our politics PPPP, PMLQ and PMLN. All national and international think tanks have been warning incumbents that survival and sovereignty of Pakistan hinges upon free and fair elections. But it seems incumbents are wittingly downplaying reports of pre-pool rigging and not heeding to consequences of their complacency. All parties except PMLQ warned against the possibility of large scale rigging in forth coming elections. Even MQM have now started complaining about rigging indirectly.

If authorities failed to ensure free and fair elections the post election scenario does not carry a good picture for Pakistan. When I envision this scenario I could only see hate, violence and destruction. If we were unable to stop Gen (retd) Musharraf interfering with election results then it will be impossible to stop Pakistan from marching onto Kenyan path and we will find ourselves in a black hole of destruction and lawlessness.