It’s not Raila but Kenyans under threat

By Kipkirui K’Telwa

Picture these events: Soaring maize prices; acute maize and oil shortages. Then the government attempts to amend the constitution to create a Special Tribunal to try perpetrators of post-election violence fails miserably in House. Some 93 MPs voted against the combined forces of president Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-president Kalonzo Musyoka who managed 101, which was 44 votes less than the mandatory 145 needed to amend the constitution.

And before the country adjusts to the constitutional embarrassment, a police officer, who is not even charged with anti-terrorism affairs, issues security alerts on Raila. That was a big one considering that our police officers have never been known to be vigilant enough to fight unorganised terrorists such as Mungiki, Talibans and Chinkororo.

To quote a Standard online reader; "threat to any leader is a threat to the stability of the country and I hope the government is not trying to divert the attention that it been receiving from a series of mega scandals.† If indeed there is a terror threat in the country, professional security apparatus are always ahead in thwarting such threats".†

Police officers of all cadres do not participate in leaking security information to the press and sending out SMS.†

Instead of forwarding the warning message that they purport to have come from angry terrorist, the security apparatus should have tracked the source of the offending message and apprehended the suspect. The suspect would be charged under the new Communication Act. The State can prefer charges such as treason, planning to commit murder, planning to overthrow a legally elected government by planning to kill one of the principal leaders. The law against inciting unrest in the country could still fix the terrorist.

By the way no evidence links the killings of Tom Mboya, Pio Gama Pinto, Robert Ouko among others to Muslim terrorists.

Therefore, one can say when our politicians lose national values, need for patriotism, and even democratic orientation to the point that they resort to threats and manipulation of masses to stay in power.

By associating the source of offending message to Muslims, a section of the State machinery aimed to put a wedge between Raila and the community that has been supportive of his political ambitions.

Instead of diverting the attention of overtaxed and starving Kenyans, they should be sorting out valuable issues such as the constitution, infrastructure, food shortage and soaring prices of basic commodities. Above, both President Kibaki and Raila should end corruption and impunity. If they find these too taxing, then they can fix the election date.

Even at the peak of scandals in Moi’s government, maize never disappeared nor rose in price. But for the first time, the poor can hardly afford ugali. It has metamorphosised into the rich man’s food.

Come on guys, it is not Raila who is under threat: Kenyans who can hardly find or afford food. They are being terrorised by hunger, disease and fires. Who will come to their rescue?