Internal Security: President Kibaki has failed us!

 

By:  William O. Makora

The coalition government is in its sunset years of governance. For the past four years, it has wobbled from one crisis to another leaving Kenyans to wonder as to who is in-charge. The third President of Kenya, Mr. Stanley Emilio Mwai Kibaki, with his trademark of hands-off style of leadership has greatly contributed to the mess we are in today. This is the second or third time I am writing about it and I grieve as I do it again today.

While other nations give security the first priority, the Kenyan government gives none. The security agencies have either gone to sleep or clandestinely support activities of criminal gangs leaving a sorry state where insecurity is the order of the day. Kenya is the only stable nation in the region where people butcher one another like animals. It is in this land where security personnel remain perpetually susceptible to fatal harm by criminals and even warring communities. In Kenya, under the custody of President Kibaki, either communities simply take weapons and attack one another or seek cessation. It is only in Kenya where neighbouring countries have even claimed parts of the territory read Migingo Island. That is a nation in the hands of a sleeping man, sandwiched by glories of blind satisfactions.

Kibaki’s neglect of his country may be lodged in the artificial lens formed by selfish persons around him. Initially, the first lady was the vocal voice in the House, seeking family identity from all and sundry, including the nation; and protecting it to the extent of chastising perceived spoilers of the same. People thought she mastered Kibaki’s decisions, but not before she subsided and left a horde of money makers also keen on owning the nation. Ever since, Kibaki has never made a sound security decision for the nation, not on time!

The legacy

Prior to 2007, it took personal decision of the late Hon. John Michuki to deal with Mungiki in action dubbed “Operation Wipe Out”. The clandestine warriors had become “an economical” risk when they targeted businessmen in Central province, Nairobi and parts of Rift Valley in bloody murders. Using his position as a Minister for Internal Security, Michuki ordered ‘execution on arrest’. This effectively reduced, scared and scattered the group. If Kibaki knew any detail, it was reported to him.
In early 2008, hell broke loose after Kibaki and his handlers forced their way back to power. Kenyans brusquely massacred one another in a horrible two weeks’ animosity. Kibaki, having assumed power and a Commander-In-Chief, was missing in action as rumours blew by winds that he would be holed up in places including Uganda. Since then, Kenya has never become the same. In fact, Kenya has never known peace. We have become a regional laughing stock as neighbours have sought to share up the nation. Even internal regions are seeking to pull out. That is what Kibaki want to bequeath to Kenyans as a legacy! Thinking about money making and economy is not a bad thing, Mr. President; it is good, but is it everything? … A stitch in time saves nine!

Only last week communities living in Tana River delta slaughtered one another right in the face of a sleeping security machinery under the leadership of President Kibaki. He is not looking at it at all. A week before, the police in South Africa had opened fire to striking mine workers an incident that led to the killing of 34 workers. This act led to the South African President to cut short a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Mozambique to attend to the crisis. This isn’t something that will neither make Kibaki get out of the House on the Hill nor appoint a substantive Minister of Internal Security. He rather looks at money makers than the lives of poor Kenyans. Like he asked of Migingo Island; ‘what are poor people to Kenya’s economy?’ The Makerere Economist would rather sit for a short while and read a statement promising actions than work out security details in order to forestall further careless loss of lives to such aggressions. Before he masters a blink of his eyes, vengeance has thawed the land and everybody is lost of words.

Stitch in time

Today, a few hundred youths are threatening lives in Mombasa. No Church! No market! No road! No home! Walking, bathing, eating, sleeping, etc, are luxuries to the residents for the past almost three days. Kenyans run for their dear lives. If innocent Kenyans are not being butchered in the streets in broad daylight, security personnel are exploded by grenades! That is here in Kenya.

Kibaki is preparing to go and open Agricultural Show in the same city. With his security beefed, the head of State House has prepared a speech to deliver on the matter. Speeches! Mere speeches and statements! Over the years as future leaders die careless deaths! Mr. President, don’t you have a heart?! Don’t you have an idea?!
Thinking about money making and economy is not a bad thing, Mr. President; it is good, but is it everything? If you ever got my past message, Sir; insecurity can reduce your hard work to zilch. Remember what a week’s unrest caused to Kenya’s GDP you worked hard to build in your first five years’ term-it has failed to get back even to half! A stitch in time saves nine!