Muthama owes Uhuru and Waiguru an apology

Two weeks ago, I watched in horror as Senator Johnstone Muthama of Machakos let fly one epithet after another. I was stunned. The rally — an Opposition affair — was meant to forge support for striking teachers. But Mr Muthama turned his speech into an invective-laced tirade against Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta and beleaguered Devolution CS Anne Waiguru. Mr Muthama left nothing to the imagination as he tore into the two. Even as a critic of Mr Kenyatta, I cringed at Mr Muthama’s language.

A hue and cry ensued. Predictably, TNA mandarins bayed for his blood. Interior CS Nkaissery “ordered” Mr Muthama arrested and “grilled.” NCIC boss Francis Kaparo said Mr Muthama had broken hate-speech laws. Where’s the truth?

There’s a mouth disease afflicting the elite in Kenya. Loose tongues. Uncontrolled diction. The use of crude, coarse, vulgar, and unbecoming language. It’s as though the elite is back in primary school where bullies strained to hurl — spit like snakes — the most hurtful insults at your mama. Last year, I saw Majority Leader Aden Duale lose his senses in a public rally. In front of URP’s William Ruto, Mr Duale told Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto public monies didn’t belong to his mother, or words to that effect. The pugnacious governor had to be restrained from charging the podium to “teach” Mr Duale a lesson. DP Ruto didn’t rebuke Mr Duale. Lesson — you can say anything against your opponent.

More recently, writer Mutahi Ngunyi has perfected the art of the tribal insult, as has Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria. Mr Ngunyi called the Luo community “poverty stricken slaves” who worship CORD boss Raila Odinga, the “lord of poverty.” A public storm was quieted only when Mr Ngunyi “apologised” to the Luo and offered a goat in contrition. Weeks later, Mr Ngunyi offered another head-scratcher. In explaining his docility to Jubilee, Mr Ngunyi opined that he couldn’t criticise Mr Kenyatta because Kikuyu culture forbids it. To Mr Ngunyi, one can’t criticise an age-mate, or leave his age group, according to Kikuyu custom. Thanks, Mr Ngunyi, for reminding us Mr Kenyatta is a tribal leader. You are free to genuflect.

What’s my point? Kenyan leaders — even supposed intellectuals like Mr Ngunyi — feel unfettered by any rule of public decency, moral, or standard of decorum. They will say and utter anything against political opponents — or enemies, according to them — to confirm their primeval and Neanderthal proclivities. When political discourse turns coarse, and primitive, democracy becomes a casualty. This is my view — if you can’t say something in front of your children, then you shouldn’t say it in a public rally. What Senator Muthama said about Mr Kenyatta and Ms Waiguru was unbecoming.

But equally ridiculous was the reaction of Jubilee. Mr Muthama was guilty of bad manners — crude, unbecoming, and even silly language — but nothing he said was illegal, or treasonous. Mr Kaparo seems to think the NCIC should investigate every excitable utterance by a filthy mouth. Nyet — his job to go after sinister cases such as that of Mr Ngunyi, the intemperate Mr Kuria, and their sick ilk. The language employed by those two very likely is actionable as hate speech because it could easily have ignited ethnic cauldrons and pogroms. Mr Muthama’s diatribe was nothing of the sort. His was a pitiable — lamentable — attempt at slinging mud at Mr Kenyatta and Ms Waiguru. Methinks he harmed himself more than them.

I firmly believe the political Opposition — which is the government-in-waiting — does itself no favours when it bloviates the way Mr Muthama did. That’s what we call unforced errors. The Kenyan public watching Mr Muthama’s performance — whatever their political affiliation — must have been left wondering what the good senator was smoking. His behaviour, and the failure of CORD’s trio of Mr Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Moses Wetang’ula to distance themselves from his inane remarks left a lot to be desired. It reminds me of a racist who called candidate Barack Obama a Muslim in a question to Senator John McCain, his Republican opponent. Mr McCain repudiated the speaker. Given a similar opportunity, current Republican frontrunner Donald Trump instead reinforced the bigot.

Kenyans want to see an Opposition that’s fair, moral, and just. They don’t want an Opposition that’s punching below the belt. Or bloviating. If Jubilee has failed, then take the high road and convince Kenyans why you deserve to govern. Stand and walk straight — and Kenyans will trust you. Lead by example. Don’t descend into the gutter with your opponents. Mr Muthama shouldn’t be recording any statements at the CID, but he owes Mr Kenyatta and Ms Waiguru a public apology.