Two of Jubilee's apologists penned opinions last week that made interesting reading. From where I sit, their common denominator was the want of saying something than for saying something.

One of the narratives was woven around numbers that did not add up. First, Johnstone Sakaja wrote there were 40,833 polling centres across the country when the actual number was 40,883. In a pathetic attempt to justify the steady 11 per cent difference between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga during the August 8 vote count, Sakaja doggedly argued it was more probable than improbable to have that constant without demonstrating how it was scientifically possible.

Voter turnout

To have averred that figures posted hourly on IEBC’s portal, having been randomly picked reflected the unfolding reality on the ground, and giving the example of 1,000 stations that had a turnout of 700,000 (100 per cent) was ridiculous. IEBC’s portal put the total voter turnout at 77.79 per cent. Kenyan opinion pollsters normally sample between 1,500 and 2,500 people, hence, to have positvely stated an exit poll interviewed upward of 5,000 individuals is far-fetched.

The 2016 US election, suspected to have been manipulated, were cleverly executed, if indeed there was manipulation. Donald Trump took the lead early on. At some point he nearly lost it, but surged ahead again. The gap was never constant. Whichever way one looks at the US elections, there is a shadow around them. The Russian tie refuses to go away. Because Trump has been jittery since, the manipulation claim, rather than diminish, is gaining currency. The number of top government officials fired by Trump is symptomatic of a cover-up.

Aden Duale is the other apologist. The right to support any side of the political divide exists, but I draw a line at fawning loyalty on the one hand and principled support on the other. The subjectivity of his opinions is amplified by the seemingly morbid fascination he has for Raila Odinga.

While the winning side’s tyranny of numbers in Parliament should ideally work towards healing a deeply divided nation, Duale gloats and believes it is time to sack Government officials who do not massage the administration’s ego.

The target is Auditor General Edward Ouko, who has been straddling the super highway to sleaze, exposing and blowing the whistle on functionaries who are in Government for themselves; pilfering public funds. No one has proven that numerous reports by the Auditor General highlighting misuse of public funds are fallacious. Why is it necessary to target a man whose only crime is diligence and, perhaps, having a name that fits a certain stereotype?

Given the happenings in certain areas, could there be a plan to purge the corridors of power of those perceived to be going against the grain? Sometime last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta publicly humiliated Auditor General Edward Ouko at State House Nairobi, and it might not have ended there. Yet, interestingly the President has acknowledged there is massive corruption in high places. If he was truly committed to ending corruption, he would have found a friend, not a fiend, in Edward Ouko.

The apologist who believes sacking Ouko on the basis that Jubilee commands the numbers in Parliament, while questioning Raila’s achievement in public service, made the following conflicting observation: “In fact, Mr Odinga’s strongest foreign ally, Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli has congratulated Kenyatta.” The next paragraph reads: “The Tanzanian president understood early on what many others are starting to realize; that ODM leader is a spent force." I wonder, does Duale understand the apparent contradiction in what he was putting across?

Ad hominem

Subscribing to ad hominem is a favourite of individuals who cannot countenance demands for accountability. It is a favourite of the status quo protectionists, those who suffer the guilt of failing to measure up to public expectation. Those who have nothing to offer society; the proponents of the mantra ‘accept and move on’ even where injustices have been perpetrated.

Duale’s unfortunate call that “The media and third sector (I don’t know who these are) should begin the process of putting the NASA brigade in the place their recent proclamation and utter loss have necessitated” has an ominous ring to it. The media must brace for tough times ahead. It must be ready to do Government bidding in clamping down on the opposition or suffer the fate of NGO’s. More laws in the mould of the Security Laws (Amendment) bill 2014 could be in the offing.

Lately, the Communication Authority, the Films Board and Cabinet Secretary for ICT have been issuing edicts to the media. Giving orders that negate the constitution in attempts to claw back gains made in guaranteeing freedom of expression and the right to information. Why would a Government that projects itself as people friendly and pro-development want to intimidate members of the third estate?

Mr Chagema is a correspondent at The Standard.achagema@standardmedia.co.ke