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| Ngunjiri Wambugu |
Over the weekend I heard a news item that
quoted Deputy Police Spokesman Mr Charles Owino telling politicians to inciting
Kenyans against other leaders. He specifically pointed out a certain constituency
where some leaders are reported to be telling Kenyans that a departed leader
was killed by some forces, and suggesting that Kenyans in that constituency
must not support politicians associated with parties belonging to these forces.
It is not hard to decipher what Mr.
Owino is speaking about.
We have three parliamentary by-elections
coming up in another week or so. Two of those by-elections were occasioned by
the deaths of Hon George Saitoti and Hon Orwa Ojode, the Minister and Assistant
Minister of Internal Security respectively. The third one is because of the
death of Hon John Michuki, also a former Minister. Hon Michuki died due to
illness, which means there are no tongues wagging about ‘someone’ killing him.
However Hons Saitoti and Ojode died after a helicopter crash that is currently
being investigated, so their by-elections are the ones where such a statement
would apply
An inquest into the deaths of the two
internal security bosses is being covered blow-by-blow in the press.
Unfortunately, Kenyans being who they are there are people who are picking
whatever information is coming forth and manipulating it to their political
benefit. The extremely competitive by-elections going on in the two leader’s
former constituencies make for a suitable environment for such 'interpretation'
to get public tractions, thus coming to the attention of the police.
Attempts to twist the deaths of Saitoti
& Ojode, and cast their opponents as the ones behind such deaths, are an
example of how low Kenya's poltics has fallen. The logic behind anyone pointing fingers at competitors as
being behind the death of, for example, Hon George Saitoti, is so as to suggest
parties associated with those alleged to be behind his death should not be
allowed to gain from this action. It is a terribly immoral political strategy
that is unfortunately highly effective. However it is also extremely polarizing
and anyone behind such schemes is guilty of dividing Kenyans and inciting them
against each other. I therefore completely support the Deputy Police
Spokesman's position.
However I am concerned
by why the police are speaking now, and only about this case of leaders
inciting Kenyans against other leaders. I would like to point out two other
prominent cases the police have been noticeably quiet about.
In the last 2 to 3 years Kenyans have
been grappling with the ICC situation that has seen 4 Kenyans get their cases
confirmed by the International Court. The process that got us here started with
a call for a local solution, which Parliament by a majority, rejected. However
since the names of suspects were unveiled we have had several of MPs mislead
Kenyans and incite us, against one of the principals of the Coalition
government. Several MPs from Rift
Valley and Central Kenya regions, with a few others from other regions of Kenya
have decided to try make the ICC case a general election agenda.
These MPs are telling
Kenyans that this Co-Principal manipulated the ICC to have his competition in
the court. They are insisting that such person is not suitable to lead and
asking those from their communities, and other Kenyans, to shun him. They have
even been associated with musicians who have produced songs that are in court
as hate speech, against this Co-Principal. The police have been mum. They
have not spoken against what are deliberately distorted statements by national
leaders about other leaders, that are blatantly false and polarizing; and that
are meant to directly incite some Kenyans, against other Kenyans.
The second case is about the Mau Evictions.
This happened after a Cabinet decision which not a single Minister disowned. It
also happened after a Parliamentary debate which not a single MP has so far
referred to. However some MPs have chosen to directly incite Kenyans against
the same Co-Principal again, by lying that the Mau evictions were done on his
instructions. Some national leaders especially from Rift Valley, have decided
to make this distorted narrative, a political issue. Again, the police have been noticeably quiet. They have not
spoken against these leaders who are deliberately misrepresenting a government
decision, to directly incite some Kenyans, against other Kenyans.
Which leads to several interesting
questions.
Since no one should incite Kenyans
against other Kenyans, especially for political purposes, why are the police
more interested with some cases, and not others? What is so different
about these particular allegations about 'someone killing someone else'? Could
it be because the allegations affect a different national leader? Does this
imply that it is okay to incite Kenyans against one (more senior) politician,
but not his junior?
The police must realize Kenyans are watching them carefully. The positions
they take must be consistent, if they are to be credible.
The writer comments on Kenyan Politcal matters
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