Let’s spread hope, not fear

It is better to err on the side of caution than be caught flat footed in a situation whose culmination was predictable. So goes the old adage.

Millions of Kenyans appear to be taking this warning seriously and are making plans to protect themselves in the dark tunnel that the country’s national elections have become since the precipice of 2007.

With the memories of the events that took place at the beginning of 2008 still fresh in their minds, Kenyans are stocking food, barricading their residences and spending on extra security for their houses -- fearing a repeat of the same.

Yet a look at what is happening on the ground clearly shows that Kenya has made real progress on the reform path, eliminating many of the land mines that threw the country into a near collapse five years ago.

It is the refusal to accept that the country has a fresh set of supreme laws, a new referee in the game of politics, new rules of transition and a credible Judiciary and the denial that a botched up election was the root cause of the mayhem that is fuelling the wave of fear.

Those spreading fear are clearly non-believers in all that Kenya and the international community has done in the past five years to restore stability and nationhood in a country that nearly died at the alter of mayhem.

We have began the journey of stability and peace, let’s keep the faith.