CJ Koome challenges leaders to embrace dialogue

Chief Justice Martha Koome has challenged leaders to embrace dialogue as a means of preventing post-election violence.

The CJ recounted past post-election violence, which she said could have been avoided had the players addressed issues through dialogue and peacebuilding before the actual elections.

Speaking during the 24th Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) General Assembly in Meru, the President of the Supreme Court noted that opposing leaders only sought dialogue and mediation after the post-election violence, which had caused deaths and destruction of property.

Koome who was flanked by Tharaka Nithi Woman Representative Susan Ngugi, clerics and other leaders rooted for inclusive dialogue before any elections to prevent conflict.

She regretted that leaders were only forced to seek political negotiations and power-sharing arrangements after the damage had been done, something she said could have been addressed before the polls.

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She said in 2007, leaders sought  dialogue after Kenyans had fought, killed, and destroyed property.

“We ended up at the table to negotiate nusu mkate (power sharing agreement). Then we went on, 2017 we also had disputes of our elections. We fought, destroyed property then we ended up at the table. What did we end up with-Handshake, isn’t it?”

She witnessed the violence that was witnessed in 2022 before leaders were forced to seek negotiations and a settlement.

“Come 2022, we killed each other, destroyed property. We ended up at the table.”

The CJ said the harm could have been prevented in the first place had leaders had engaged in dialogue and propagated peace.

She said while negotiations were welcome in preventing more harm, it is crucial for dialogue to precede the elections.

“Why don’t we start the other way- at the table?” she posed.

The CJ underlined the important role the churches should play in promoting dialogue before elections.

“It is the work of the church to challenge us that we first of all we start at the table. We all know this country belongs to all of us. We all have a stake in it. None has a bigger stake than the other. Therefore, because it belongs to all of us, why don’t we sit at the table and agree on how we can govern ourselves?”

Ms Ngugi said the church had an integral role to play in the political, economic, and social development.

The lawmaker underscored the said the judiciary and churches must partner to attain justice in the country as she rooted for ADR.

"I pray that the church, judiciary, and political class unite and work together. We should be able to start at the dialogue table to discuss our issues collectively. We should not start with the fights, then go to the table. It is the table first. If the church, judiciary, political class, and everyone else start at the table, there won't be a war in this country. There will be peace, justice, and development," said Ms Ngugi.