The national youth leader of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party David Maina has urged Kenyans and candidates to use the courts as a channel of solving political disputes that may arise after the August 9 elections.
According to Maina, the 2007 elections experienced political violence after candidates opted to go to the streets rather than the courts to seek redress when they disputed the results.
“In 2007, people did not go to court, and the nation burnt down unlike the year 2013 when people went to the court and peace prevailed. We are asking the Kenyan Youth and Political leaders to use the courts as an arbitrator rather than rally the youth to cause political mayhem,” Maina said.
As a result of the 2007 post-election violence, over a thousand innocent lives were lost with another over 600,000 people being displaced.
Property millions of shillings were also destroyed as a result of the violence.
But the UDA youth leader points out that presenting the disputes in a court of law is one way of practising democratic rights and one that promotes peace and national cohesion.
Vote in peace
Further, Maina urged the youth to come out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right on voting for leaders who will bring about economic transformation as well as address the myriad challenges affecting them.
“I urge the youth to ensure they all participate in the election. I plead with them to maintain peace as this country cannot develop without peace,” he said.
Campaigns for Tuesday’s general election officially ended on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at 6 pm.
Kenyans will be going to the polls to vote for six elective positions – President, Governor, Senator, Member of Parliament (MP), County Woman Member of Parliament, and Member of County Assembly (MCA).
There are over 22.1 million voters participating in the general election spread in 47 counties and 290 constituencies, including 10,444 voters living outside the country.
