Don’t politicise terrorism, for it is a global problem

“Terror is not a new weapon. Through history it has been used by those who could not prevail either in persuasion or by example. But inevitably they failed – either because men are not afraid to die for a life worth living, or because the terrorists themselves came to realise that free men cannot be frightened by threats and that aggression will meet its own response.” JF Kennedy’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 1961.

Terrorism is a global problem the entire world is grappling with. It’s neither permanent nor an inevitable condition. It has not been caused by any one individual or government.

Kenya has had its own share of attacks from these heinous acts perpetuated by merciless and inhuman people. However, no one can and should invoke the names of innocent victims of such brutality to win sympathy and undeserved attention. All of us as Kenyans must play our cardinal responsibilities to supplement the efforts of our Government. Terrorists must be made aware that we will have courageous individuals who refuse to allow artificial stratifications and social caging.

Tens of thousands of Kenyans have been subjected to death and inhumane treatments in the hands of the terrorists. One can plausibly argue that without any cogent and visible action from the Kenyan authorities, yet intermittent and sporadic attacks continue, that elements of lackluster and laizez faire prevail. It’s so easy however, to pick wars with the Government and point fingers. It’s comfortable to pass the buck. But when a nation suffers we all perish, both Government and Opposition.

Kenyans have reacted angrily but all those have only necessitated knee-jerk reaction from the Executive and the Legislature. Some reactions have been made in convoluted manner, yet the results haven’t been promising. A time for introspection is now. As a matter of fact, we cannot respond by attacking the Government. Obviously the Government has not attacked its own people. Terrorists and extremists have.

The action taken by the Government must also be exercised in a manner compatible with the principle of service to Kenyans and for their well-being and benefit, without necessarily advertising their response to the public. Security issues are classified and confidential. They are policy based and cannot be shared, lest our enemies use them against us. We can’t announce to the terrorists what we are going to do, but security apparatus should be seen to be doing something.

The horrible attacks on our citizens are a harsh indictment of our Government, but overall we all bear  responsibility for the sorry state of affairs. Consequently, both Jubilee and CORD leaders and supporters bear equal responsibility, if patriotism is anything to go by. A solution to insecurity cannot lie in simply holding a dialogue when the same dialogue in itself is not a magic bullet.

Unless one says he has some intelligence information on impending attacks that can only be shared in a structured dialogue. If so, why wait till the country perishes if one can simply walk into any police station and give information. Al Shabaab response can be developed based on intelligence gathering.

At the policy level, both the Executive and the Legislature are not seen to be taking the matter seriously as they should. When an attack is meted on Kenyans, everything else must stop. The Government must immediately empathise with the victims and assure them of security and comfort as they mobilise personnel and resources to affected areas. They must not abandon other areas only to concentrate on fresh attacks because terrorists may outwit them by quickly moving to unattended regions. Saying the Government should resign doesn’t stop Al Shabaab and extremists from attacking. They will hit whether CORD or Jubilee is in power.

Government should provide toll free lines to get information on suspicious characters from Kenyans. The security agencies in return must promise to hide the identity of the informers and quickly act on information given to them. Kenyans on the other hand must be responsible enough not to subject security apparatus to mockery.

Intelligence networks should also remember that terrorists may pretend to be passing information as a decoy to distract from the intended target, so the officials must be precise and capable of discerning and sifting complex discussions and not fall prey to an inimitable wordsmith.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has a democratic instrument issued by a reigning sovereign through the popular will of the people to govern. He has the constitution as the guiding principle. But constitutionalism isn’t about blind or robotic adherence to, or enforcement of laws no matter how retrogressive they might be.

The US, the best known democratic presidential system, adopted the use of Presidential Executive Orders and directives since the founding of the federation as the preferred route for Presidents, especially when necessitated by political, economic, military or security considerations. It is also legitimately exercised to circumvent the gridlock and filibuster in Congress.

In order to stoically defy the allure of terrorism as most debilitating illness that has the potential to bring us to our knees; some actions will have to be employed as a result of Presidential Executive Orders. Uhuru must act in the best interest of all citizens, and we must all play a role.