No Mr President, on security, the buck stops with you

A country expecting hope, assurance and comfort from its leadership was left reeling in shock after the President nonchalantly declared that security and personal safety is everyone’s responsibility.

It was an admission that for all that has gone wrong with the security situation in the country, there was little that the Government and least of all, the President and Commander and Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces could do.

This was Uhuru Kenyatta’s first public appearance since 28 Kenyans were murdered in cold blood by members of the dreaded Al-Shabaab militia in Mandera on Saturday.

His physical absence from the thick of things and the belated appearance of his Deputy William Ruto almost 36 hours after the incident took place gave no indication of a leadership that cared for its people.

The citizenry seemingly expected a leader angry at the fumbling nature of his subordinates to come out strongly and claim his place.

Quite unexpectedly, it is as if Mr Kenyatta has no personal pride staked on ensuring that the country is safe for all Kenyans.

He did not.

By wading into the security situation days later than expected of him, the President forfeited a chance to rally the country behind his efforts to bolster his national security strategy.

Sadly, the President went as far as apportioning blame to the parents of a three-year-old girl who was defiled by her uncle recently. This apparent lack of paternal concern on the part of the President is upsetting.

For Mr Kenyatta’s comments about the rape incident were, to say the least, inexcusable for a President many were growing fond of for his relaxed demeanour and unconventional style.

Reports that he was in Abu Dhabi, at the time of the final leg of the Formula One race, rubbed the salt into the wounds inflicted by terrorism attacks. While he may not have attended the fete, many would have preferred to see him in the country. For this was a low moment for Kenya. These times require sober reflection on the part of the citizens and an assured, firm leadership from those who lead them. Probably the President and other leaders see insecurity as no fault of their making.

He even went as far as blaming “other leaders” for the bad state of things. But then, were the President answerable to no one, his actions and comments would have been easily ignored. But Mr Kenyatta is answerable to 41 million Kenyans.

The grotesque inefficiency of Kenya’s security agencies is the stuff of legend, but then the buck stops with the President.

Tax-paying Kenyans, horrified at the deteriorating security situation, expected more from their pampered leaders. Like for example, how to cut the ratio of police to civilians from about 1:1,000. For effective policing, the UN recommends a ratio of 1:450. The Jubilee-led Government has done much to shore up the morale of the police officers through better remuneration and improved housing. It would have been prudent for him to ask that the police account for the heavy investment in their welfare.

No doubt, there are obvious cases where citizen participation is key to ensuring the neighbourhoods are safe. That is very limited.

Yet in stating what many had hoped to be untrue, the President’s statement could also be taken to highlight the folly of the citizenry relying on someone else, a politician, to change the fortunes of their lives.

Yet despite that, the security docket is such that you get it right at the national level or it is doomed. It is such that even in the scheme of things post-devolution, security remained a function of the National Government.

Tourism, one of Kenya’s top forex earners is on its knees, with hotel bookings at the Coast at their lowest levels in years, perhaps decades. This has largely to do with the state of insecurity in the area. Jobs have been lost and livelihoods disrupted. That is dangerous.

Economic stagnation will no doubt create disaffection with the ruling class. The time to act is now.