"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Kenyans for Justice is a non-partisan, UK-based group of Kenyans and friends of Kenya that feel a great injustice was done to Kenyans during the flawed presidential election of December 2007. The irregularities witnessed during the tallying of presidential results meant that the results of the presidential election were rigged at worst and uncertain at best. Kenyans were subsequently denied the right to protest, to exercise their freedom of speech and the free and independent media was silenced. We believe that sustainable peace and stability in Kenya cannot be restored unless these and other related injustices are corrected. We do not endorse any specific candidate or party but will work with and support like-minded organizations, persons or groups of persons that are working at achieving similar objectives.
ObjectivesThe main objective of the group is to give Kenyans in the UK and other parts of the diaspora a forum to share ideas for action and to contribute in the fight for electoral justice.
Our goals are to ensure that:- The correct winner of the 2007 presidential elections is ascertained by an independent body or persons such as the UN;
- Electoral and constitutional changes are made to avoid a repeat of the irregularities and mistakes seen during the 2007 presidential election;
- The restoration of the rights of Kenyans to free speech, the right to protest and free and independent media;
- The arrest and imprisonment of perpetrators of violence against innocent victims including police shooting at unarmed protesters and vigilante groups targeting specific ethnic groups.
We plan to achieve our objectives by, among other methods:- Lobbying parliamentarians and politicians in the UK to pressure the Kenya government and opposition leaders to address the electoral irregularities and determine the rightful victor;
- Writing to the media and journalists to keep the focus on Kenya alive and where necessary correct misconceptions in news reports;
- Supporting those fighting for justice 'on the ground' in Kenya through petitions, letters of encouragement, etc;
- Organizing rallies and demonstrations in the UK in acts of solidarity with those attempting to peacefully protest in Kenya.
To reiterate, we are a non-partisan group that believe that the injustice that was done during the 2007 presidential election should be corrected, not because we believe any one party should be in government or any specific person should be president, but to nurture democracy in Kenya and enable future generations to enjoy the ability to elect their leaders in a democratic way without having to resort to violent or illegal means. The Kenyans for Justice forum is not a debating forum as to which candidate should or should not be president but a forum for supporters for all parties to come together and work at a solution for justice and ultimately for lasting peace and stability.
Addressing Some MythsThe election was not flawed or riggedNumerous independent observers including the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chairman, EU and US observers, The Kenya Human Rights Commission have all testified that the presidential tallying process was flawed and potentially rigged. Based on observations of people in Kenya during and after the elections as well as the opinions of numerous independent bodies, we believe the process was flawed and potentially rigged.
Both sides, i.e. the opposition and the government rigged in some areasThe irregularities reported by independent observers were indeed both in pro-government and pro-opposition strong holds. However, the main flaw in the process was identified as being in the tallying process at the ECK headquarters in favor of the government. Kenyans for Justice would like all irregularities and flaws investigated by an independent body for the rightful victor to be determined. The reluctance of the government to have the results verified by an independent body and the speedy swearing in of the president further fuels the suspicions that rigging occurred.
The violence witnessed is purely ethnically based and has been orchestrated by the Orange Democratic MovementAlthough we believe some level of violence is ethnically based (and would have happened regardless of the electoral outcome) we believe there are many Kenyans (from all ethnic groups and across the political divide) who are angry that the democratic system in Kenya appears to have been abused to benefit a specific party and person. Kenyans for Justice believes that there will be sustainable peace only when the perceived electoral injustices are addressed and corrected.
The court system in Kenya should be used to address the disputesThe fight for democracy and justice has to be fought on many fronts. One of this is the Kenyan court system, which several NGOs are now pursuing. However, the court system has been known to be corrupt, biased and slow to justice. Other methods of pressure and protest are not only necessary but, in many cases, the only viable ones for bringing about justice. A case in point is the fight for multi-party democracy in the 1990s that required numerous protests and international pressure for change to be achieved.
We should continue with our daily lives as whoever is president doesn't affect usKenyans for Justice is not fighting for a specific person or political party. We believe that for Kenya to develop politically, electoral justice has to be upheld and be seen to be upheld. The process is more important than the individual and we believe the process should be free, fair and just. The process, we believe, is worth fighting for.
Any rigging that was done by the government was justified as Raila is not fit to be President of KenyaDemocracy dictates that the peoples’ choice be respected regardless of what that may be. During the presidential campaigns, both sides had the opportunity to present their credentials and, if necessary, reasons why their opponents were not fit to lead. Once this was done, the decision of the Kenyan people ought to have been respected and accepted.
