Imprisoning democracy allows Jubilee chance to slip in authoritarianism

President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto duting the inauguration at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi in November 2017. [Photo: Courtesy]

Jubilee’s top honchos have abandoned any pretext to espousing the tenets of democracy. Bare-knuckled, they went for the Opposition and the media, accusing the two of being partners in a diabolical scheme to overthrow Uhuru’s government. The build-up to this can be traced to the August 8, 2017 General Election and the nullification of the presidential results by the Supreme Court. The rupture has revealed a hitherto camouflaged, steely side of an otherwise outwardly amiable Uhuru that many did not believe existed, not even after the Jubilee Party vice chairman, David Murathe, told Kenyans to brace themselves for a dictator who would grant no quarter to nonconformists.

Our ‘progressive’ Constitution, no doubt adopted ahead of time given the abundance of political intolerance and immaturity, suddenly lost its appeal and has been temporarily suspended. In particular, sections detailing human rights and freedoms critical to any functioning democracy have been abrogated. Media freedom and the right to information were curtailed with the forced closure of tree television stations that command two thirds of Kenya’s viewership. Individual passports, security detail, and firearm licences given to Opposition leaders have been withdrawn on reasons that cannot stand scrutiny, reasons that trample on the very essence of our Constitution.