By: Hon. Ababu Namwamba
[wpsocialite]
Respect for judicial decisions, whether you agree with them or not, is a cardinal connerstone in any society anchored on the rule of law as its central unifying public philosophy.
On December 13, 2000, Al Gore conceded to George W. Bush after a Supreme Court verdict decided the controversial Florida vote count in the landmark 2000 US presidential race. Gore strongly disagreed with the Court’s decision, but in his concession speech stated that, “for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concessionâ€. Yesterday, March 30, 2013, Raila Odinga walked this hallowed path. While expressing his reservations over the Supreme Court ruling, he statesmanly declared, “…although we may not agree with some of its findings, and in spite of anomalies we have pointed out, our belief in constitutionalism remains supremeâ€. He then duly congratulated Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Hakuna refu lisilo na inchaâ€, so goes a Swahili saying. Let the Supreme Court verdict serve as closure for the March 4th electoral battle. Let us accord Raila Amolo Odinga his rightful place as a venerable father of Kenya’s libertarian struggle, which remains incomplete and will continue to draw on his invaluable contribution. Let us recognise the government of President-elect Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and his deputy William Samoei Ruto.
I wish them well, and promise Kenyans that we shall stand diligent in the opposition ranks to provide a firm, fair and honest alternative voice…in the best interest of our young constitutional democracy. God bless Kenya