Treat death threats to MPs seriously

Allegations abound of highly placed individuals within Government who wish to engage assassins to ‘silence’ politicians perceived to be anti-establishment.

While some may rubbish such allegations as sensationalist, provocative and unwarranted, they would be missing the point.

Indeed, there is nothing that is intentionally alarmist like the admission by Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, of the existence of an unknown serial psychopath who pens threatening letters to MPs.

It is useless to be elected to Parliament only to fear for one’s life or that of family members. These allegations must be treated seriously considering that insecurity is at an all time high.

Prof Saitoti’s admission was inappropriate because it only served to exacerbate the public’s fear of the safety of their MPs.

It is appalling the intelligence organs have been unable to zero in on the author of these threats.

Criminals can take advantage of the situation to assassinate key political figures with serious repercussions to our stability.

Of concern, too, is the precision with which the so-called serial psychopath makes use of factual and classified Government information in the threatening and anonymous letters.

This is a pointer to the possibility of complicity among State security agents. The Government must institute reforms in the security agencies to restore their credibility.

The threatened MPs must be accorded round-the-clock protection. Political intimidation must not be allowed to infringe on our expanding democratic space.

{Tome Francis, Bumula}

The allegation by Central Imenti MP Gitobu Imanyara that some individuals have been targeted for elimination is believable.

Several high profile individuals have been killed in mysterious circumstances and no one has ever been brought to book.

The deaths of politicians like JM Kariuki, Tom Mboya and Melitus Were and recently Prof Mbai and the directors of the Oscar Foundation show leaders are under threat from individuals associated with the Government of the day due to political reasons.

While there is no evidence tabled by Imanyara, wananchi need the Government to reassure them of their leaders’ safety. Saitoti must not dismiss Imanyara’s claims as cheap propaganda but should take time to investigate.

We do not want to live in a country where citizens live in fear of being eliminated by the Government meant to protect them.

{William Ntoina, Kapenguria}

Last Thursday afternoon during parliamentary proceedings, Imanyara shocked fellow MPs when he tabled a letter threatening his life.

I would like to urge National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende, and the Government to investigate the claim.

Also allegedly targeted for elimination are Martha Karua, Bonny Khalwale and Ferdinand Waititu, individuals who have been vocal in calls to halt extra-judicial killings by police.

This is a democracy where leaders should be able to fight for wananchi without fear of victimisation or death threats.

Let Kenyans be told who are these people who want to eliminate our own ‘Obamas’.

{Kevin Magumba, Nairobi}