The opposition protests demanding the removal of the commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will, no doubt, continue. Every Monday and across the country.

Judging by the reactions of the Inspector-General of Police and various Jubilants, the heavy-handed response of the security services will also continue. As will the intransigent position that any discussion on the IEBC commissioners can only be through the parliamentary process.

Which can only mean escalation.

The rights at stake are those to freedom of expression and to peaceful assembly. Protected by our own Constitution. The opposition is well within its bounds to organise whatever public actions it feels will make its point. Regardless of what the IG and the Jubilants may think of that point. As long as, of course, their actions don’t interfere with the rights of others.

That, of course, begs the question. As to the responsibility of the opposition to signal that its protests remain peaceful and don’t interfere with those who may simply be going about their own business in the vicinity of various IEBC offices.

But a caution is needed here too — not for the opposition, but for those of us so ready to decry the opposition’s supposed violence.

Historically, Kenya’s protests have only turned violent when

a) The security services go wild in their repression of such actions, as they did on Monday;

b) When the incumbents organise “third forces” to disrupt the protestors, smear their names and damage their cause. Think back to the infamous Jeshi La Mzee; and

c) When the protest organisers inflame those who show up to protest and incite violence through either obvious or coded messages. Nothing indicates the opposition is doing that.

Leadership is needed on both sides of the political divide to avoid the escalation. But any talks on the elections must go beyond those two sides. Elections are about more than political contestation. Elections are about us, citizens. They are the primary means through which we exercise our rights to vote and participate in public life.

We cannot let any discussion on any electoral matter be confined to parliament. We should welcome the calls for dialogue from non-political actors on more than the fate of the IEBC Commissioners.

It is in that spirit that civil society launched, this past Sunday, Kura Yangu, Sauti Yangu — after consultations with political parties, religious organisations, business and trade unions, as well as the whole electoral management and observation industry.

Kura Yangu, Sauti Yangu is calling for a multi-stakeholder dialogue. On the basis of a six-point agenda: The governance and leadership of the electoral process.

The security of citizens through from voter registration to polling and beyond. Discrimination against women through failure to agree on a formula to implement the two-thirds rule. Maintaining the integrity of the vote, particularly at the presidential level. Dispute-resolution. And, finally, co-ordination of public bodies responsible for these aspects.

A multi-stakeholder dialogue. A six-point agenda. The elections are about us, citizens. And what will happen to our vote.

L. Muthoni Wanyeki is Amnesty International’s regional director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes