Press Release
Democratic Elections: A Repetitive Illusions to the Masses

Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has declared a deputy President William Samoei Ruto as duly President–elect in a just concluded election. A moment before the announcement, the four commissioners of the IEBC disowned the Presidential results which they said; “were arrived at in an opaque manner”. Ruto’s competitor Raila Odinga rejected the results and vowed to the Supreme Court over election loss. Lauded by international observers as largely peaceful and “above average”, the election had the lowest voter turnout in 15 years as youth stayed a way.

We in Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya wish to mention the following:

Democratic Elections are transitional means from one regime to another that gives a legitimacy to the incoming regime. This process does not reflect the actual voting exercise as the underlining factor, but rather gives legitimacy to the new administration. Consequently, the whole exercise is democratic façade with reality being selection rather than election. Additionally, a ‘free, fair and transparent elections’ are just a trump card of the Colonial West to create an illusion that limits change to elections and timeline called term limits.

With regard to voter apathy, this clearly shows that most citizens especially the youth have lost faith in leadership which for a long time has not solved their pressing issues. Citizens have come to realization that political ego among the leaders is manifested as a priority number one to interest and welfare of the citizens! Capitalism by nature creates political animosity and greed hence depriving the common citizen from meeting basic needs.

We state categorically, the invalid capitalist ideology is the root cause of all problems facing Kenya that include political impunity, widespread corruption, inflation and insecurity. These crises are not unique to Kenya but the world in general. Capitalism is anchored on enriching the rich and exploiting the poor ultimately resulting in a huge gap between the wealthy and the poor. We are certain that in any democratic election at any given period and time will never deliver leadership that manifests true statesmanship rather leadership that works within the sphere of the influence of colonial capitalists powers.

Kenya and the whole world is in dire need of Islam and its ruling system (Khilafah) which has clear solutions to the problems facing humanity. Islam defines politics as sincerely taking care of the needs of the people rather than a power struggle among the politicians who fight for their own benefit. A system where the role of political parties will not be as vehicles against the interests of the Ummah. Instead they will be tasked with an overseeing role to ensure the leadership fulfills its responsibility and delivery to all its citizens.

Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Kenya