Say No To Political Assassinations

In Say No To Political Assassinations, I make note of the re-emergence of this vile tool of political cowards to silence their critics and opponents in Kenya and make the obvious plea for all of us to be united in our condemnation of the vice and make that message loud and clear so it may sink in the minds of the wicked contemplating or actively pursuing their murderous plans against anyone be that a household name or your average citizen speaking their mind as guaranteed in the Constitution.

Excerpt:

We also know that politics is exercised on a wide range of social levels, from clans and tribes of traditional societies, through modern local governments, companies and institutions up to sovereign states, to the international level.

Indeed, even in our own individual families, politics is alive and well to the extent it’s about power and influence; those who have it be it in the family or society at large occasionally wield it responsibly but often irresponsibly, selfishly and recklessly, if not ruthlessly.

So much so such that as between and among politicians, simple disagreement or questioning of one’s conduct becomes lightening rod to vanquish those with whom they disagree or those who question them not just because they disagree or can’t be questioned, but because they see those challenging them as their mortal enemies standing in the way of what they want and that therefore the solution is to eliminate them.

That’s why we have had fist fights in Parliaments, political arrests and the ultimate price for challenging those with power, namely, political assassination.

In our beloved Kenya, we have had a fair share of all of these, especially political assassinations that peaked in the late 70s and early 80s. Kibaki may have left us no legacy one can speak of other than denying Raila even his nusu mkate (half-loaf) but one can say we never really had political assassinations to speak of during his presidency and that’s a testament to his own style of politics and discipline among his inner circle who are often the architects of these political assassinations.

The same cannot be said about the Uhuru administration not even a full five-year term we already have a claim of at least one person having been assassinated and from there we have a few or many more, depending on one’s level of comfort with conspiratorial theories and whisperings.

When a Recce officer publicly lets the world know he’s trigger happy to kill a Member of Parliament or more, one cannot possibly dismiss that as empty threat; rather, combined with the fact no action was taken against this officer, one must and has to conclude resorting to violence to punish those with whom one disagrees is not a thing of the past, but is a vice alive and well decades after we thought it was behind us.

That’s scary and if President Uhuru wishes to be on the right side of history on this subject, he should forthwith have this officer ordered to withdraw his incendiary and wanton display of willingness to resort to violence to silence a person merely because he didn’t like what the person said or did.

Similarly, the president should see to it that his security chiefs do not arbitrarily withdraw security details for politicians simply because those politicians are not towing the Jubilee line or simply because they’re vocal in their opposition to his government; their refusal to tow the Jubilee line or being vocal in their opposition to the Jubilee government is their Constitutionally protected right of which no one can take away, and that includes the president and his security chiefs.

That’s the new Kenya we want, namely, one where people are free to express themselves or associate with whomever they wish without fear of retribution from the state.

That’s second only to our other want and that’s having the will of the people expressed at the polls without fear, intimidation or vote rigging.

We can and must have room for both and Uhuru has a big say in both.

 

We Need A Transition Government In Kenya

In We Need Transition Government In Kenya, I make the case the only way to send Uhuru packing is for the opposition to unite as we did in 2002 which I say is possibly only if greed and ego don’t come into play.

Excepts:

…

There’s a reason Obama was reelected in 2012 despite all that he had going against him, including the widespread hostility toward Obamacare that those against it see as a wealth transfer from the haves to the have nots.

This reason is simply once elected in 2008 as the country’s first African American president, President Obama rolled up his sleeves and went to work in delivering an ambitious agenda to reverse the economic mess the country was plunged into by his predecessor George W Bush.

Americans going to the polls in 2012 rewarded Obama for these efforts which he has since built upon to become ranked as one of the country’s top transformative presidents.

The same cannot be said about our own President Uhuru Kenyatta.

There’s isn’t a single thing one can point to that Uhuru has done to transform Kenya such that he can make a case he deserves a second term.

Not one.

…

On the other hand, if the opposition were to be united and front a single candidate—and the only logical one who can beat Uhuru is Raila, then 2017 will mark the first time in our country’s history when we have a transformative leader as there’s no question if Uhuru were to be defeated, the dynamics of that defeat will be such that Kenyans will demand a new direction for the country that can only be delivered by someone those who waddle in looting and corruption fear the most and that’s none other than Raila.

In 2013, Raila supporters could be heard in bars and social gatherings making the case let’s elect Raila if only to serve one term as a transition president, meaning, to server one term in which to set in motion fundamental reforms in government that would be completed by his successor and others to follow Awambo having taken the country to another level of much desired economic prosperity and welfare.

If there was such a time having such a deal and sticking to it, it is now for without those hungry for power being assured their turn would be sooner, it’s doubtful they’ll be willing to be Raila cheerleaders–an outcome the country cannot afford.

Not with this much hunger for change in the air.