It is difficult to imagine a situation worse than the one
Kenya is in today. There is the threat to life and property due to terrorism,
our security organs seem clueless, rising political temperatures seeking to
incite citizens, tempos of confrontation are ringing loud and our dreaded enemy
of ethnic polarization and hatred is back.
And we are more concerned with taking a selfie! Our political
leadership, in government and opposition is more concerned on how they look and
how convincingly they can lay blame on one another rather than with solving
problems. They must change their outlook. This is not the time to point
culpability but to address families of the victims and seek answers on the real
culprits.
Perhaps the “selfie” craze has made us only admire ourselves
and forget to look and listen outwards to issues and to the other Kenyans. The
situation we now find ourselves in is deplorable and we need to create space
for sanity to address the heightened uncertainty, insecurity, suspicion and
helplessness. It is evident the security mechanisms have failed, in pre-empting
terror incidents through communication and intelligence, and in reacting
promptly and effectively.
The security apparatus needs to be serviced or overhauled
altogether. Five hours of delay is totally unacceptable and would have been
unacceptable even 20 years ago. Time has come to look at the service we owe to
Kenyans. We must forget our political leanings and egos so as to bring together
a wounded nation. We must preach peace and bring solutions on the table, not
just engage in a senseless blame game. The security mess must be put right,
starting by those who have failed in their duty.
As citizens we must now be on the lookout, but more
importantly become our brother’s keeper. This is time to put our heads and
hands together to repel the common enemy of hatred, and violence. Hatred must
not be allowed to grow. See also: Senseless conflicts disrupt growth We Kenyans
must get sober and talk like brothers and sisters. It is time for all leaders
across the divide to stop talking tribe, and stop escalating the existing
tensions among our people.
Terrorists will thrive in our confusion and wrangles. Winston
Churchill once said, “When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot
hurt you.” We must understand that politics is part of the life of the nation.
However, it can be either constructive and positive, or destructive and
partisan. We have been treated to a play-off of “political might” that is
slowly degenerating into a platform for ethnic feelings. We see a rising tribal
streak coming to the bad “competition” of who “controls” who.
Wake up leaders and guide and come to the aid of this
country! For God’s sake let’s stop the bickering and get down to working
together. Our throats are hoarse at singing our own praises and not a word for
the victims... except a selfie with them! Leaders seem to be more concerned
with defending their position with rhetoric of “good intentions”, “promises”,
“good conduct” and “great concern” while hidden behind is the selfish and
personal pursuit of gaining political mileage.
Renowned icon of first ladies, Eleanor Roosevelt’s
exclamation must hold true: “Pit race against race, religion against religion,
and prejudice against prejudice. Divide and conquer! We must not let that
happen here.” The life of any Kenyan counts even in Mpeketoni! The life of the
poorest people of this country is just as important as that of the mighty and
powerful.
I wonder whether we would be acting in the same way if it was
only two not 50 parliamentarians who had lost their lives or those of their
families. Was the Westgate terror attack which warranted an entire cohort of
soldiers more important? Or could it be that it was perhaps much closer to the
powers that be? Dialogue among the leaders across the political divide is a
necessity.
What must be sober is how it takes place; not as a tribunal
but as a constructive exchange, where good ideas are given space, no matter
from whom they come from. In fact, that is the role of advisory forums.
Therefore it is not something we should call arbitrarily. How the dialogue is
organised is up to the nature of matters, but certainly we cannot expect to
create another house of Parliament to discuss national affairs.
Can we ask both sides to be statesmen and gentlemen? The
voice of the clergy has unfortunately been overshadowed by the noise of
bickering. I am aware of many statements and voices of reason that have been
raised by diverse religious leaders. Very little of these have been captured by
the media. However, we as the church leaders must do more, and speak louder,
with a different voice from the political class. We must bring sanity and
reason to the issues affecting the flock.
Adopted from The
Standard
