President Kibaki adressing a press conference after the Yes team won the referendum (photo sourced from Daily Nation 05 August 2010).Kenya has indeed shown the world that it can hold free and fair elections. No doubt. The people of Kenya are celebrating what the rebirth and the new constitution will bring, the second republic. Having stayed abroad for over seven years, I personally have something to smile about. I can now have a dual citizenship. How great. I can even choose to go back home and become an MP or is it a PS no, maybe the Prezo. Or I should just seat in the Diaspora and continue remitting cash back home. ..am still thinking.
You see, the reality is that the new Kenyan constitution has got much to offer. Wait a minute, why is the international media not seeing these fruits. I have been disturbed by the manner in which they have represented the Kenyan referendum. I did a quick textual and ideological analysis of the semiotics involving their coverage in stories appearing online on the 5th of August 2010 and I had mixed reactions. I became sad and happy. Sad because it is saddening to hear a cocktail of words such as ‘violence, ethnic, and tight security’ being repeated several times by the international media across the board in their stories.
Reports from Aljazeera news online and TV on the elections utilized such words and emphasized the idea that ‘the government and their security forces’ assured voters that there will be no incidences of violence. As if Kenyans are that violent by nature and do not understand their civic duties in a democracy pertaining the idea of elections and change. They need “security” forces to understand their responsibilities. Analogies were used where the referendum is compared to the ugly incidences of the 2007 election violence, often superficially, in reinforcing the discourse of violence that, apparently, ‘characterize elections in Africa’. Such discourses could lead to tension.
The BBC news online also reported that “it appeared that the elections were conducted peacefully,” paradigmatically, I am sure there is a better choice of words. Simply reporting that ‘it appeared,” leaves a lot to be desired. The CNN reported that “there have been no reports of violence so far,” as if they expected some forms of violence at some point in the immediate future. The CNN went further to argue that “Security -- especially in potential hot spots -- has been beefed up following concerns that violence would once again break out during the voting period.”
Despite all these reports, I am still happy. Happy because Kenya is the real winner in the referendum. Clearly, with the new constitution, I believe Kenya will achieve its vision 2030. Majority of us in the Diaspora are already making major home coming plans. My friend Bobby in Vienna posted something on facebook. Yah, I think it was “let green be the color of love.” The post was spot on. I am sure Spidy in Toronto is smiling because the last time we met during the holidays in December, he complained of how he needed a Visa to come to his country of birth. He had become a Canadian Citizen. Well Spidy, there’s nothing to worry about now…you will regain your Kenyan citizenship in December and still retain your Canadian one. I am sure you will have the best wedding thereafter. God bless Kenya.
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