Greed and lawlessness will set us on sure path to ruin

What is the difference between a driver who refuses to stop when flagged down by a police officer, and a Government officer who refuses to turn up when summoned by a State agency? Nothing. What is the difference between a matatu driver that crushes a police officer who is waving him down to stop, and a Government officer who intimidates a judge or magistrate when summoned to court? Nothing. These are but evidences of a society that is fast sliding into lawlessness. Unless nipped in the bud, this behaviour can only lead to eventual anarchy – where everyone does as they please.

It may be recalled that there was a time when mob justice was commonplace. People were lynched for mundane things such as stealing a banana, or being suspected to be a night runner. Why? Because the legal system had basically failed. Matters taken to court would take forever to adjudicate, and even when they were, it was clear to all and sundry that the ruling was in favour of the highest bidder. We lost faith in the courts and resorted to mob justice – spontaneously sorting out matters in the streets. Many innocent people died on mere suspicion and many others were sentenced to death for minor offences.