“No” blackmail won’t solve their problems

By LAWRENCE CHITERI
Published June 14, 2010

Boarding schools can provide lasting experiences, at least by their encompassing every shade of human society. One particularly memorable incident was about a wizard among the students, who knowing he would be in jeopardy if discovered, devised a ploy. One day, he used a sharp razor, to inflict a slight cut on his body. Come morning, he was in tears, appealing for sympathy from every student, who ended up blaming an unknown night-runner. The following night, the same wizard stealthily walked across the dark dormitory, and inflicted a deep cut on another student. Obviously, he would be the last person to be suspected.

The analogy above perfectly fits the Uhuru Park incident the other day, where the “No” camp held their meeting. First however, the resultant mayhem is one to strongly condemn, irrespective of who the orchestrators were. If this was a plot by the “Yes” team, in which side the government is largely stacked, the glare of humanity, decency and propriety, cries in their face. It is rather late in the day, for acts of insensitivity, and wanton retribution, based on differing opinion to pervade our midst. Whoever the organizers, innocent wananchi should not be exposed as mere baits for votes at the end of politicians’ long fishing lines.

The way to redress this unfortunate happening is to delve deep into investigations, and expeditiously reveal the perpetrators of such nefarious behaviour. Here is where the government should seek to assure the public of protection, and fairness. Woe upon the government, if it has a hand in this dastardly act. The tactics are old fashioned, and ugly to say the least. Let there be honest, fair, firm and balanced approach to incidents that lead to bloodshed, and loss of life.

The other side to the analogy begs the credibility of the organizers of the “No” rally. As much as they were quick to know whom to blame, a few queries tie their hands. It is curious that the ugly incident occurred well after the allocated time. If an outsider wished to disrupt the proceedings of this meeting; how, in God’s name, did they conveniently wait for an after-hours opportunity? They would well have executed the sin in the allocated time. There are actually three sides to the coin, and the grey side compels conjuncture.

Kenya has reached a stage whereby, people must be held responsible for inefficiency, sins of omission and commission. The rules of liability must be well understood, interpreted and respected. When one organizes a licensed rally, they should stick to the allocated time, lest they put to jeopardy, the people they invite to attend their business. This is why the organizers of the Uhuru Park rally, are suspects number one, in this puzzle. The rule of responsibility by commission and omission ties their hands.

Even more disconcerting is the fact that there was a warning blast, to which the preacher who extended that fateful stay, responded that it should be ignored. Swift response would have saved lives.

One would be forgiven to smell the rat, in the cheapness with which this act was designed and delivered. The government has in the past blatantly come out, whenever they had beef with any opposition, and they leave no iota of doubt, as to their intention. Again, the referendum vote is largely decided, it is a naked fact that the “No” are back peddling, and such an outfit is not the “threat” to expend dirty tactics on. This is unless of course, the design is a “No” ploy, to cry out loud, to attract sympathy by acclaim.

The faceless naysayers are products of “no holds barred” style of operation, and in discreet fashion, have tried several besmirching antics to sway opinion. Remember the addition of clauses at the government printer; they are obviously sulking at every opportunity, war mongering (remember the diabolical utterances of Fred Kapondi and Wilfred Machage) and now this Uhuru Park incident. One needs not hold a degree in filthy politics, to decipher this dormitory like mischief.

Again, here is where the government is expected to put its feet down, to deal with untoward traits, and utterances. This is the time President Mwai Kibaki, and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, must exhibit leadership. They ought to interpret the law meticulously, and resolve the recklessness, now bedeviling their brigade- that is what defending the constitution, for which Kibaki took a most sacred oath, is all about. Everyone knows that the cabinet is reeking filthy with moles, whose foot hold in bureaucracy, lends them the leeway to pervert justice and order.

Furthermore, in the matter of the referendum, many of them have eyes trained on 2012, at the expense of the lives, security and well being of the common mwananchi. The two principles know this fact, and are also aware of the people camouflaging in the day, but seething with the venom of selfish parochial political aspirations, at the expense of the wider Kenyan good. Need we intone that, posterity awaits all stakeholders? But before then, the Uhuru Park childishness must be condemned in breaths both deep and final.

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