Nairobi — Attorney-General Amos Wako has warned that candidates and political parties inciting violence during the campaigns could be barred from participating in the polls and also prosecuted for criminal offences.

That message is very apt given the level of intolerance and violence we are witnessing daily, even before the official campaign period is launched.

The AG said a team from the State Law Office, the Electoral Commission and the Kenya Police has been meeting to plan how best to handle cases of incitement, intimidation, hate speeches, violence and other offences against both the Electoral Code of Conduct and the regular Penal Code.

Committees, unfortunately, have a habit of locking themselves up in a room and deliberating forever even when mayhem is breaking out everywhere.

We are witnessing serious incidents of campaign violence that should be dealt with under the existing laws. There is no need to wait for deliberations when blatant breaches of the law are being committed.

We have seen incidents of candidates being assaulted or mobs being used to block some candidates from taking their campaigns to certain constituencies or regions. We have not seen any action taken against the perpetrators of such violence.

The real perpetrators here are not the thugs who may be paid or incited to take battle to political foes, but the paymasters and inciters.

For any strategy against electoral violence to work, it must target, not just the foot soldiers, but those who have the most direct stake and the motivation to sponsor such criminal actions.

It is only when candidates for political office realise that they could face very heavy penalties, including disqualification or time in jail, that they will desist from sponsoring violence.

Candidates and political parties have the duty to ensure their supporters stop campaign violence and behave within the law. The ultimate sanction for a political party or a candidate would be to bar that party or individual from participating in elections.

This is the message that must go out clear and loud, and it is our hope the authorities delivering this threat can start by making an example of the more blatant offenders.