Is Hon. Moses Kuria grooming youth for another round of violence, after 2007 post election violence?

It all started with a simple directive from an angry president who commanded Members of Parliament from Central Kenya to lead the way in ensuring that the so-called “second generation” alcoholic drinks were flushed out. Just a day into the swoops, the campaign against dangerous alcohol took a new turn. Accompanied by their leaders, youth from many parts of the country swung into action, burning business premises, beating up business people and looting property including non-alcoholic items.

Many genuine businesses have since been closed, and stakeholders “unfairly” apprehended incommunicado for reasons best known to actors and the government.

In the directive President Uhuru Kenyatta also revoked all licenses of all alcohol outlets. Since then, confusion on what constitutes “second generation” drinks has cloaked the entire country. Unfortunately, even Members of Parliament don’t know the exact definition of this term that is only associated with alcohol which is consumed by the “poor people” of our society. Maybe, as a rule of thumb in Kenyan politics, the MPs just wanted to please the president, and nothing else.

However, something caught my attention in this drama. Over the weekend, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria led a group of youth who were out to look for illicit brew in some villages in Central Kenya. The over 200 youth were armed to teeth with machete and other weapons like “rungu,” and fighting sticks. They looked so aggressive and ready to fight. At a glance, their attire and nature of belligerence would only remind you of one thing, 2007/8 Post Election Violence which claimed the lives of over 1000 Kenyans.  

If you may remember so well, just years before 2007 General Election, groups of youth emerged from various parts of the country. In Western Kenya, there was Sabaot Land Defence Force; in Nyanza there was Baghdad Boys in Kisumu City and Chinkororo Militants in Kisii town; in Rift Valley an unidentified youth were out to “bring back” their land; in Central Kenya - Mungiki Militants taxed residents of the little they earned; and at the Coast, Mombasa Republican Council was claiming divisionism from Kenya.

All these groups are still in existence though perceive as they may appear, most of their members are looking for any chance to achieve their primary goals. It’s widely reported that most of these young people have since joined militia groups like al-Shabaab while others are either in jail or looking for a sense of belonging from any violent grouping.

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria seems unalive to the fact that these youth are still potentially dangerous, especially, when given a chance to commit violent atrocities against the society. By joining machete wilding youth to attack any businesses - whether legally or illegally constituted, Kuria was simply endorsing violence among the young people. In fact, he was caught on tape saying, “[Translated from Swajili] The owner of riddles (Raila Odinga) said that you youth are a Jubilee militia. Here in Gatundu, you are my own Militia, and I don’t want nonsense. I have given you machetes to cut anyone you wish.”

As it stands, the youth who accompanied Moses Kuria to the raids have now believed in violence than ever before. Unfortunately, their violent nature might never be tamed by any government.

 

Kenya will be going to one of the most hotly contested polls in 2017. As it is, no one has the courage to promise peace and tranquillity before, during and after 2017 polls. Choosing to witness violence is a contemptible failure on the side of a leader like Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria. By any description, Kuria’s machete wilding youth were no different from Mungiki, Chinkororo, Sabaot Land Defence Force, Baghdad Boys or Mombasa Republican Council.