Tuesday, December 2, 2014

DISMISSAL OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE AND THE INTERNAL SECURITY CABINET SECRETARY IS NOT PANACEA TO NATIONAL INSECURITY

So much has been said about the state of insecurity in Kenya. The general public has been debating the situation since the election of the Jubilee Government in March 2013. Kenya came under a spate of perpetual insecurity ranging from terrorism, stripping of women, thuggery, robbery including carjacking of a presidential motorcade vehicle, arson, among many other matters insecurity. The citizenry has demanded the resignation of the security leadership to a deaf ear of the President. The Coalition for Reform and Democracy movement has been at the forefront in demanding action from a government that specializes in issuing unqualified warnings. After more that 500 Kenyans succumbing to acts of terror claimed over 500 civilians and over 300 security officers, the President announced changes in security system by replacing the Inspector General of Police and the Cabinet Secretary concerned. The Presidential decision has proven to be too little too late, coming after the opposition coalition had called for the resignation of the President himself. The President outraged Kenyans by blaming the citizens for not doing enough to curb insecurity. Suffice to mention that Kenyans have faithfully paid taxes that are used to fund security agencies. The President, in an unprecedented speech reacting to the killing of 28 non-Muslim passengers in a bus in the North-Eastern County of Mandera absolved himself and the state from the blame on the killings. A week later, 36 Kenyans were killed by a terror gang in the same county hours after two Kenyans lay dead in the same county. It was not surprising therefore, after piled up anger from Kenyans that the President finally relieved the two security officers. The act, though tough, does little to prove the seriousness of the President. It would therefore be logical for the People of Kenya under a political outfit to call for the resignation of the President on grounds of incompetence. The primary purpose of state is to assure its citizens of their security. Kenya is the strongest power in the East and Central African region, and such insecurity only serves to compromise the gains so far made by hardworking citizens to build their country. Failure by the state to assure security means the state officers involved, starting with the President himself, ought to resign. The Coalition for Reform and Democracy on their part should work harder to strengthen their internal structures and offer a challenge to the Jubilee Coalition. As matters stand, the Orange Democratic Movement is the face of the Coalition, dwarfing the Wiper Democratic Movement and the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya. This means therefore that in case of an alternative, ODM is the outfit to watch under the leadership of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Chairman John Mbadi and Secretary General Ababu Namwamba. The opposition, irrespective of the outfit, should come up with strategies in consultation with the civil society organisations. Kenya is sitting on a time bomb. Give credit where it is due. The Uhuru Kenyatta Government has opened up the Government and widened the democratic space through the myriad ICT-related initiatives. Infrastructural developments are evident and economic planning improved. However, economic growth is subservient to security needs of a citizenry. Kenyans were poorer under the Daniel Moi regime but felt more secure. Security may just be a state of mind, but this state is influenced by the omissions or commissions of the government. With the confusion in state apparatus charged with security, it is time that the people of Kenya must force the resignation of the Uhuru Kenyatta administration and their tyranny of numbers in both houses of Parliament. Kenyans should come out in large numbers demanding a fresh election, by hook or crook. I rest my case.

Monday, December 1, 2014

STATE OF INSECURITY AND PRESIDENTIAL GOOF

The Presidential statement that Kenyans should take responsibility for their security is just another pointer that Kenya needs a more focused leadership that understands the theory of the origin of state. It is the responsibility of state to provide security for its citizens as theorized by Thomas Hobbes in his state of nature. In his submissions, life in a stateless society is “solitary, nasty, brutish and short.” Man established a leviathan to whom he surrendered his power in return for security. Following the spate of insecurity across the country from both terrorists and ordinary criminals, the president, who is the sole commander-in-chief accused Kenyans of being irresponsible in their own security. He absolved the state from any blame of insecurity by asking Kenyans to ensure they are safe. The interpretation of the presidential remark is that the state has failed in its role of protecting its citizenry as theorized by Thomas Hobbes and other social contractarians. Kenya is therefore getting into the league of failed states. The security situation is dilapidated to the extent that even a presidential escort vehicle was stolen and later traced in the neighboring country of Uganda. The deaths of politicians (or assassinations) is also raising serious security concerns. Two years after general elections, the country has lost two opposition-leasing senators in unexplained circumstances. The passing on of Senator Mutula Kilonzo under mysterious circumstances has not yet been explained. Senator Otieno Kajwang also passed on. Autopsy reports indicated that the latter’s six ribs were broken from a man who was in the Senate a few hours before meeting his death. Terror-relating insecurity has also affected the country. Months after the Jubilee Government was sworn into office, the worst terror attack of the millennium hit the country at Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi killing more than 60 Kenyans. A number of several other attacks have rocked the nation without a comprehensive report besides the political lashing and blame games by the government. Ultimately the security lapses in the country are blamed on the President. The buck stops with the Commander-in-Chief. I agree with the president that security should involve the citizens. The insecurity elements reside within the citizenry, and some are well known. However, it is also known that some security officers collude with criminals in their heinous activities. This has compromised the openness of the citizens in revealing suspects as the practice endangers their own security. There is need for behaviour change on the side of the security agents. The police service ought to be responsive to insecurity cases, put on a human face and act diligently on criminal intelligence from the public. A refresher course is in order for the security agents, while dismissing from the service those whose allegiance is not within the service charter. However, by the President asking Kenyans to take care of their own security, he admits publicly that he has failed to curb the menace. It is a way of passing the blame on Kenyans for his stately failures on security. Kenyans are paying their taxes religiously, monies that fund the security agencies, including the criminal investigation and national intelligence departments. The Inspector General of Police and the Director of National Intelligence Service must be put to task to explain the lapses. The President was elected to ensure the security of all Kenyans courtesy of the huge taxes levied on them. When it becomes evident as it has, that all the President and his cabinet secretary are doing is to issue unmet ultimatums to the criminals, the citizenry is in order to issue an ultimatum to the President. Mr Kenyatta should either shape up or ship out. Enough with political rhetoric, theatrics and public relations by his digital officers. The opposition Coalition for Reform and Democracy on its part need to come up with an alternative security strategy instead of engaging in endless blame games. Should Kenyans replace Mr Kenyatta as the President, there is no sufficient proof that CORD would be better. The political party in power ought to implement its political manifesto as a document under which the party was propelled to power. It was theoretically the manifesto that was approved on the ballot, and so the manifesto should be implemented as crafted. Opposition parties on their part ought to establish an alternative government. With the shadow ministers and their commanding numbers in parliament, CORD ought to come up with a party position on socio-political and economic challenges, not just for criticism of government, but for support where warranted. The admission by the president merits two arguments: One, that Kenya is going back to the state of nature where everybody is for themselves. In this state, life is nasty, short and brutish. It is a man-eat-man society where might is right. This is an unfortunate state in the 21st Century, signalling the failure of constitutionalism. Secondly, the admissions was a salute to the power of criminal gangs. Having known that they have outsmarted the state despite the latter’s legal and operational authority, these criminal groups will multiply in numbers by recruiting more members in their ranks. The third point is that the police service is rendered ineffective in its constitutional responsibility. Thus the President’s admission absolves the police inspectorate and the entire security mechanism of any responsibility. The US Secretary of Defence resigned because he felt incapable of handling the ever-growing threats to the United States. With the increasing national insecurity, the President ought to consider a reshuffle and have a more competent person as Cabinet Secretary. In conclusion, the Presidents is expected to provide a father-figure and unifying force for Kenyans. He has to assure Kenyans of the safety through the constitutional mechanisms. The opposition parties and civil society groups need to suggest alternatives and enhance awareness among Kenyans on the state of security in the country. Should the insecurity continue, then Kenyans may resort to removal of the incumbent through any constitutional means which include mass action.