Retired US Ambassador to Kenya, Johnnie Carson maintains the country’s democracy and economy has projected unwavering growth even in the face of a political season.
Speaking at forum in Washington, Carson, according to Daily Nation said in the last decade, there’s been an upward progression in Kenyan democracy.
“We have seen positive movement in Kenya’s democratic progression over the last decade and a half,” said the retired ambassador.
Growing inclination to solve electoral disputes in court, presence of an independent and courageous judiciary; a decrease in electoral related violence, adoption of 2010 Constitution and reducing Presidential powers are some of the democratic progression Carson highlighted.
He was part of a six-member panelist team in the Spotlight on Kenya, a forum held in Washington.
He, however, noted recent electoral uncertainty does not augur for the country politically and economically.
Carson concurred with NASA leader Raila Odinga’s sentiments that “You can’t do the same thing the same way and expect different results.”
He enjoined: “You know something? He’s right.”
But Deputy President William Ruto’s legal adviser Dr Korir Sing’oei differed with Carson on his stand point pertaining Raila’s conduct.
“The uncritical adulation of opposition leader Raila Odinga by the international community has made his conduct to lack any sense of proportionality,” stated Sing’oei.
He added that nullification of the August 8 polls by the Supreme Court has set a precedent where credible elections cannot be held.
“What this ruling has done is to make it almost impossible to deliver a credible election. It is indeed feasible that there is the potential for endless petitions causing chaos, confusion, anarchy,” he warned.
By Pharis Kinyua. He’s an online Journalist and an author for Jamhuri News