Kenya: Elections provoke fright, but also fraternity
A terrifying scenario similar to the 2007/2008 election season (where a lot of violence was reported in the run-up to and particularly the aftermath of the elections) is generally not expected, but fears persist, particularly among those who were victimized. Flower farm employees are not expected to take leave en masse for the elections, although some employees have been asking for early leave out of a fear of what may come.
The main reason the elections could provoke disaster even if no violence arises, has to do with the fact that both Uhura Kenyatta and William Ruto – who are on a shared ticket and are doing well in the polls – are wanted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. They are being asked to answer precisely for their roles in that post-election violence of five years ago.
If they win now, however, the chances of them coming to The Hague appear very slim. “That might conceivably trigger a nightmare scenario: a total European boycott of Kenyan flowers; the stopping of all development aid; UN withdrawal; dramatically falling house prices; in other words, the collapse of the Kenyan economy”, crop advisor Joop Dame states.
Naivasha flower farm owners have taken it upon themselves to organize initiatives promoting peace, in light of the violence and damage they and their workers suffered last time around. Leading companies have formed peace committees and political activities have been outlawed on the premises. Vehicles transporting flowers now carry peace messages and local florists have also branded their bouquets with messages of coexistence.
“So far, we have no problems inside the farm, as the elders talk to their communities to embrace others and all of us in turn take the message to our neighbors in the residential areas and the surrounding communities,” Kizzah Ludovick, HR Manager for flower exporter Oserian, explains.
The Kenyan elections of 2013 take place on Monday, March 4.
Source: Florint