TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK AT STATE HOUSE PARTY

I made a promise to myself not to attack or criticize Mrs. Kibaki on the alleged "face slapping" of the MC at the State House party. I don't have enough of the facts, videos or pictures of the incident to make an informed judgment at this time. I first thought the slapping incident was a joke when I read about it in the Standard newspaper the other day. In my opinion, if the First lady did actually slap the MC she should offer this gentleman a sincere apology. The person I /do/ want to take issue with over this alleged incident is Mr. Mcdouglas Owino, assuming that’s his real name, for defending the incident and bringing politics into it. I know it is election season so everything is viewed through the lens of party and tribal politics. In my lifetime, I have seen or heard many public announcers, politicians and executives mispronounce names without the "victims" of such incidents resorting to physical abuse. In the United States I have heard Barack Obama's name intentionally mispronounced as Osama Obama by notable public figures. However the idea of Barack Obama or his wife slapping the person that said this would be unthinkable.

The people of Kenya should not condone physical abuse from public or private officials based on the position they hold in society. People like Mr. Owino have said that the First lady "was defending herself". I don't know which law school Mr. Owino went to or which section of Kenya’s penal code he is referencing in defending the alleged act by the First Lady. I don't know whether to take Mr. Owino seriously when he says, “all social visitors at the State House are the guests of the First Lady and should not insult her". Which planet does Mr.Owino live on? Kenya’s taxpayers built the State House for past, present and future First Families of this country. This house should not be treated like a private club.

I don't know whether Mr. Owino can recall, the recent government pay increase to the First Lady. The hefty raise should tell Mr. Owino that the First Lady represents our interest/image when she hosts these events in the State House. I think the public would look at this incident differently if it had taken place in private residence in Othaya. I don't think people like Mr. Owino with narrow opinion of this incident should lower themselves to the point of abusing guests in their homes over a poor choice of words. The primary argument in defending this alleged incident is that "once you are a guest at the State House the First Lady can do whatever she wishes" is utterly ridiculous. Mr. Owino pretends that he feeling sorry for Luos over this. Why? How was the Luo community involved in this? Mr. Owino went on to say that Luos are "uncultured to lead this country". What is talking about!? Is Mr. Owino implying that if Mr. Odinga is fortunate enough to be elected the President of this country, his wife will not be able properly slap the guests at the State House? I am not here to defend Luos or any tribe in Kenya on this issue. People like Mr. Owino lack intellectual arguments for the public on issues like this. The best arguments he can come up with are conspiracy theories of ODM and the Luos at the State House, scaring the MC to do his job properly. I would urge Mr. Owino to do a background check on these "ODM moles" before the First Lady is forced to slap people doing their jobs. Perhaps that will help all of us avoid another incident like this.

Here’s a free civics lesson to Mr. Owino and his gang. The State House is the peoples’ house. The First lady is on the public payroll, and self defense does not mean that you resort to beating people up whenever you get upset. I know Luos, like other tribes, have been blamed for everything in this election season, but please, spare the Luos on this incident. The election has nothing do with it. It would be helpful to the public if Mr. Owino would share how he knows this MC was an "ODM mole". Without the facts the public is left to wonder how the First lady became judge, jury and executioner.

Dan. Magero Orao
Michigan, USA