Sammy Awami could not believe it. From the rally crowd face off to the ‘strength of Chebukati’ It all seemed like fiction.
The Tanzania-based journalist has praised Kenyan institutions and governance systems for facilitating a smooth transition following the Supreme Court’s confirmation of President William Ruto’s election victory.
According to Awami, the processes involved in Kenya’s power transition exposed flaws and glaring issues in Tanzania’s constitution and leadership policies.
In a letter published by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Thursday, September 15, he praised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati’s bravery, particularly in announcing the Presidential results despite allegedly facing pressure from some government bodies.
Chebukati’s bravery, according to Awami, could not be replicated in Tanzania under the current regime. Awami emphasized the importance of institutional independence in Kenya, which Tanzania is still working to achieve.
“We struggled to imagine the head of our commission – appointed by the president, who is also the leader of the ruling party – being as bold as his Kenyan counterpart, Wafula Chebukati, by announcing the real vote-count, even if it went against the CCM and its candidate,” Awami wrote.
“What is clear is that the Kenyan elections validated many Tanzanians’ demand for a new mother law or constitution. Even those of us who were undecided about it now see how important a new constitution could be in establishing and strengthening critical institutions such as the electoral body and the courts, which are expected to operate without fear or favor “He continued.
The journalist was also astounded by Kenya’s decision to allow citizens access to the internet even on Election Day. He explained that Tanzanian citizens were subjected to internet blackouts during the voting and counting period.
Awami was astounded by Ruto’s victory over Azimio la Umoja Presidential candidate Raila Odinga, despite receiving backing from the sitting president. He contended that no one could defeat a presidential candidate backed by Tanzania’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.
“In Tanzania, a CCM endorsement almost guarantees a candidate’s victory – sometimes without a contest,” he said again.
He was perplexed as to how the IEBC openly allowed candidates to select and submit their forms without fear of arrest.
Awami was also taken aback by how freely candidates campaigned without law enforcement officers interfering.
“The competition between Kenyan candidates to outdo each other with massive rallies was also impressive. Former President John Magufuli banned opposition rallies four years before our election in 2020.”
“When the opposition was allowed to hold them only a few weeks before the election, the rallies were frequently disrupted by security officers who intimidated and arrested activists and leaders,” he writes.
Nonetheless, he urged the country, led by President Suluhu Hassan, to begin considering constitutional amendments in order to achieve Kenya’s political and democratic maturity.
On Tuesday, September 13, President Suluhu praised the country’s institutions while attending Ruto’s inauguration at Kasarani. She also urged the newly elected president to uphold the rule of law while carrying out his duties.
