Enough democracy and elections for this week.  

If Kenyan Election Commission leader Roselyne Akombe’s loud public whistle was not enough to get the Western democracies to back off the “happy talk” about Kenya’s “fresh election” preparation [as the Chris Msando murder was not in July and August] then there is nothing more to say.  

It is worth remembering that when USAID solicited proposals for the Kenya Electoral Assistance Program 2017, it required IFES and the others to include an alternative plan for an election pushed back several months.  This is hard now, but Kenyans and their partners can give themselves a break here if there is enough good will and sobriety lurking somewhere beneath the surface.  And if not, then safer not to pretend.