Kama jaluo rade gi joluo wadgi

Dear Cyprian, dear all:

Though I did and still do support the statement hereunder condemning, and correctly so, the shameful attack on Mr. Raila Odinga at Karatina Tourist Lodge during his visit to Mathira, we would be failing in our duty if we did not condemn his own supporters’ intolerance; and if we didn’t point out that we’re actively creating demagogues by not criticizing people like Mr. Odinga when their supporters met out similar actions to his opponents and critics. To be fair therefore we need to point out that this kind of intolerance has been meted out on other Kenyans by supporters of Mr. Raila Odinga and that this too is neither right, lawful nor acceptable in a society that counts itself among democratic nations.

Remember, for instance, the masaibus that befell one Nazlin Umar in a recent trip to Kisumu. You will recall that Ms. Umar was the victim of similar barbarity in Kisumu and yet her only crime was being critical of Mr. Raila and holding a press conference to express her views. Ms. Umar may not be as famous or posses the same political gravitas as Mr. Odinga but Raila’s rights are no more important than Ms. Umar’s. They have equal entitlements and that must not only be the case in law but also in fact for these constitutionally guaranteed liberties to make much sense. Indeed even the most unrecognizable of the Kenyan citizenry ought to be guaranteed enjoyment of the same rights.

And Ms. Umar is not the only one. Ndura Waruinge could neither hold a public rally in nor peacefully tour Kibera which is in Langata constituency represented by Mr. Odinga not too long ago because some people had decided that this was the hallowed territory of Mr. Odinga. Similarly Mr. Raphael Tuju’s political and civil liberties are perpetually at risk in his own native Rarieda constituency because his tune is disconsonant with that of the conductor of the political orchestra from the region.

Indeed that parts of Luo Nyanza are for all intent and purposes an Iron curtain state is something that should cause concern for all those who hold dear, profess and defend political and civil rights. For indeed is the oppressive political environment that prevail in that part of our country not the hallmark of dictatorship? Whether it’s Moi-Kanu (during the infamous political zoning era), or Nyachae (in 2002) or Kibaki now, we must condemn such fragmentation of our country with equal force and vigour. Quite unfortunately Nyanza remains quite unfree and unsafe for non-conformists and even worse still we seem to accept this anomaly as norm.

Let us not forget that the quintessential African strongmen - yes, those tin gods that have ravaged the continent and caused so much grief to many peoples and nations on this continent -- more often than not begun out as popular and populist figures who eventually used their privileged positions and highly vaunted political pedestals to crush, jail, torture and even kill their critics and opponents while replacing illusions of democracy with totalitarianism and personalized rule. Some of those dictators were liberation struggle figures whose stature as such often insulated them from criticism even when they were clearly flying off the handle. This was as a result of the fear and awe the mere mention of their names evoked. Are we too far from that in Kenya??

So what is the point of all this then? Quite simple; first, that yes Mr. Odinga’s freedoms and rights should not be violated. Violation must be condemned and his rights and freedoms defended. But neither he nor his supporters have a right to violate the freedoms and rights of other Kenyan however polar their political leanings may be. That is the essence of civility and democracy. Secondly, that we should be careful lest we fall prey of or be seen to apply double standards. Let the evil of breach of our constitutionally- protected liberties be condemned with equal force notwithstanding the political weight of the victim or the political import of the villain. Thirdly, that not to speak out against attack on rights and freedoms makes culpable as Pastor Niemoller reminds us in his famous poem on Nazi Germany …. But not to speak against popular dictators makes us no less guilty!

As always