Makueni chaos proof of MCAs gone rogue

Nairobi; Kenya: The liberal use of lethal weapons in a fairly normal political disagreement in Makueni County, coming shortly after the Migori shoe throwing incident and the Nandi County fracas are a serious indictment on our society generally and our leadership in particular. In all these instances intolerance has been elevated to levels previously unimagined outside periods of intense electoral contest. In true Kenyan character, we liberally condemn those events that threaten our cause whilst remaining studiously silent on those attacks that are carried out by our supporters. How shortsighted we are! Those flames of intolerance we gleefully fan will roast us sooner than we think.

But my focus today is not so much on the intolerance issues but on the undertones of the Makueni situation. I must start with a confession. Professor, now Governor Kivutha Kibwana, has been a friend for many years from the days when he taught us law at the University of Nairobi. I know him to be a man of high intellect and integrity completely intolerant of corruption and other shenanigans that accompany holders of high office. I always feel sorry for the Prof when I know the struggle he must undergo as Chief Executive in one of the latest entrants in Kenya’s predatory governance system; our devolved governments.