Orengo attack on Lumumba unwarranted

Lands Minister James Orengo's decision to lash out at a respected and learned colleague yesterday was not only in bad taste, but completely missed the point of why lawyers turned up at his offices last week waving placards.

The Constitution of Kenya entitles every citizen, including Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Director and CEO Patrick Lumumba, the right to demonstrate for whatever cause as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others or endanger lives and property. The law does not discriminate on who should demonstrate, and such action does not demean the standing of the individual who chooses to exercise this right. As a seasoned lawyer and one-time celebrated political activist, he is the last person one would expect to wax sarcastically at such protests, but then maybe he knows something the rest of us don’t.