Careless statements from our leaders will only fuel tension in the country

President Uhuru Kenyatta gives his statement on the attack in Mpeketoni, Lamu County, flanked by Deputy President William Ruto during a televised address to the nation at State House, Nairobi on 17 June, 2014. 

In Summary

• Ethnic profiling, ethnic hatred, community punishment, hate speech and incitement must be condemned. There should be only one standard, and it speaks volumes that Kenyatta came out on this only when he felt that his community was being targeted.
• Rather than make such grave accusations in a press briefing, the proper approach would be to arrest the perpetrators and provide the evidence.

By Maina Kiai
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Last week, I highlighted two potential flashpoints — the IEBC and the Supreme Court — that portend a dangerous future for Kenya as we look ahead to the next elections, bearing in mind the events that culminated in the 2007/8 violence.

 

I raise these issues because Kenya is bigger than any individual and because governance is not a sport with winners and losers. We either all win, or we all lose.

But the lack of legitimacy of the IEBC as currently constituted and a pro-status quo Supreme Court that does not flinch as it weakens the Constitution are not our only flashpoints.

President Kenyatta’s remarkable statement in the aftermath of the horrendous and deadly attack in Mpeketoni vividly illustrates another flashpoint.

After the 2005 referendum there was a sense — rightly or wrongly — that President Kibaki was favouring one tribe over others, fuelling massive discontent, especially after the high hopes that his election had generated.

SCOURGE OF MOI ERA

Tribalism had been one of the scourges of the Moi era, as Kenyans watched the diversion of public resources to Moi’s home area and support base, as well as the appointment of barely qualified individuals to high office.

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One of my classmates at university, for instance, was appointed company secretary of a major parastatal before he had even completed his pupilage at the Kenya School of Law!

Kibaki was expected, and had promised, to be different from Moi, hence the outpouring of support from across Kenya. But he soon appeared keener on simply replacing the “Kalenjin Home Boys” with his “Mt. Kenya Mafia.”

Kenyatta’s statement this week blasting ethnic profiling, unfortunately, has lent itself to similar interpretations, especially after the blatant ethnic profiling that his regime has been mercilessly conducting against the Somali and Muslim communities over alleged involvement in terrorism.

"SUBSERVIENT SECURITY FORCES"

Ethnic profiling, ethnic hatred, community punishment, hate speech and incitement must be condemned whether propagated against the Somali, Luo, Arabs, Kikuyu, Kalenjin or Kisii. There should be only one standard, and it speaks volumes that Kenyatta came out on this only when he felt that his community was being targeted. Rather than reduce ethnic tensions, this approach only fans the flames.

His statement could have had more resonance and credibility had he come out as strongly to condemn the ethnic conflicts in Mandera. And what about the violence and conflicts in Samburu? Baringo? Bungoma? Kitui? Wajir? Marsabit, which produced more than 50,000 IDPs from November last year to February? Does it mean that some communities are more Kenyan than others?

I don’t know if he has any evidence contradicting al-Shabaab claims of responsibility for perpetrating the attacks in Mpeketoni. Yet it is no small matter when a President declares so categorically that this was an opposition-sponsored attack, and not one perpetrated by al-Shabaab despite their confessions. And I hope that we now don’t see our subservient security forces going out to manufacture “evidence.”

GRAVE ACCUSATIONS

The accusations are weighty, bordering on crimes against humanity. Which then behoves Kenyatta, more than anyone else, to tread carefully and ensure he can back them up solidly and legitimately.

That means that rather than make such grave accusations in a press briefing, the proper approach would be to arrest the perpetrators and provide the evidence. In fact, it is defamatory to accuse anyone of such heinous crimes without evidence. And though Kenyatta mentioned no names, it was clear to whom he was alluding.

Peace needs measured and calm statements from all our leaders, which were lacking after the 2005 referendum and is lacking now. Yes, it is fine to defend the regime, as it is fine to criticise it. But when reckless and dangerous statements are bandied around easily, including from the presidential platform, we are surely fuelling the flames.