Garissa attack underscores deep-seated problem

Nelson Mandela was a freedom fighter. He was also a lawyer. He and Oliver Tambo opened the first black law firm in South Africa in 1952. Though trained in the system, he fought it. He became the first President of post-apartheid South Africa.

Mahatma Gandhi is a timeless name easily recognisable anywhere in the world. He was a freedom fighter. Before that, he was trained as a lawyer in Britain. He started his non-violent civil disobedience campaigns in South Africa before leaving to become a leading light in the independence movement in India.

Jawaharlal Nehru was a freedom fighter. He was also a prominent lawyer in India as was his father. He was trained in Britain and returned in India for legal practice. Eventually, he became fully absorbed in national politics. Under the mentorship of Mahatma Gandhi, he became one of the leaders in the independence movement in India. The British, whom he rose against, had educated him in the theory and practice of law. He was the first Prime Minister of independent India.

A good number of the faces and brains behind the push for change in Kenya in the 80s and 90s belonged to lawyers. Among notable names was the Hon Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Senator James Orengo, Senior Counsel Paul Muite, John Khaminwa, and Senior Counsel Dr Gibson Kamau Kuria. They rebelled and fought to change the system they had been trained in. When they succeeded in changing the system they were put in charge.

Abdirahim Abdullahi, one of the Garissa attackers, was a Kenyan. He was the son of a serving chief. He was a law graduate of the University of Nairobi. As a young Kenyan, not Somali, he put down his law books, chose the gun and turned it on his age mates in another university.

This is a matter that requires serious reflection and introspection. By the time a young man graduates from the University of Nairobi with a law degree he has spent at least four years being schooled in law.

He has spent four years with other students from all corners of the country. He has engaged with them in all manner of debate: religious, political, social, sports etc.

His lecturers introduce him to the theories of law. The social foundation of law is explained to him. He is taught, at least in theory, that the law matters. He is taught, with many historical illustrations, that the law can change the law.

Abdirahim Abdullahi went to law school around the year 2010 at the time Kenya was turning a new chapter, and embracing constitutional change. He left law school unconvinced that the changed legal system could address his grievances. He left law school unconvinced that he could use the law to change the legal system.

Abdirahim Abdullahi’s actions are a sign that there are deeper problems within the social fabric of Kenya. Grievances that go beyond Al-Shabaab and domestic terrorism.

A battle of ideology is won in the hearts and minds of men. If the battle of ideology could be imprisoned by walls, or bombed out of existence, South Africa would still be under apartheid. The British would still be ruling India and the United States of America. The Mau Mau would be a footnote in the history books of another battle won by the British.

That a home grown lawyer was part of a group that slew his contemporaries within a university complex is a clear sign that Kenya is bleeding internally. Closing refugee camps, building 700km walls, bombing Somalia and maintaining the KDF there is mere first aid. Short term solutions will only sweep these grievances under the carpet where they will continue to grow more portent.