Post by miguna on Jan 31, 2006 19:41:12 GMT 3
Of Treason Threats and Political Tantrums
By MIGUNA MIGUNA* - © 30 January 2006
Rather than deal directly, swiftly, deftly and effectively with the credible allegations of cascading graft within its ranks, President Kibaki’s government has responded with fits, tantrums and diabolical threats against the media and its critics. This strategy, although preferred by strongmen everywhere, does not generally work in the long term. In the short term, it may shut people up and create a false sense of security. But as we all know, an absence of noise and bullets does not mean that there is peace. A silenced critic is more lethal than a shouting one. For in silence, one cannot tell what is brewing inside his or her opponents.
However, since President Kibaki has chosen this route, we leave it up to him to rue its uncharted consequences.
Trade Minister Mukihisa Kituyi read an official statement threatening to “deal according to law” with “the media and politicians making utterances that cast the presidency and President Kibaki in bad light.” Kituyi was fuming and promising to unleash hell-fire in the company of Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Martha Karua, Minister for Information and Communications, Mutahi Kagwe, Minister for Planning, Henry Obwocha and Minister for Immigration, Gideon Konchella. These were the government’s big guns pointed at its perceived opponents.
Kituyi also issued another dire threat against those Kenyans who would dare “discuss or debate issues which are being investigated by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission.”
Forget about freedom of speech, press, association and assembly. As far as President Kibaki’s government is concerned, our constitutional rights as citizens are limited to discussing only petty affairs. According to this new official wisdom, the issues concerning the presidency, President Kibaki himself and his government are out of bounds for ordinary people, the media and politicians who are viewed as not supportive of the government.
This was a public relations exercise gone amok. It is disastrous beyond belief. One wonders what kind of spin doctors and advisors President Kibaki has hired. More important – what kind of leaders would issue threats against journalists and its opponents at this time? Does this government believe that it is actually in a position to threaten anyone?
President Kibaki’s government sees no need to explain which legal provisions are breached by the free, open and peaceful discourse over the alleged government involvement in grand corruption. President Kibaki himself chooses to conduct his official functions through Cabinet decoys and smart alecks like Kituyi and Karua rather than face Kenyans directly.
Clearly, the people who should have been arrested, prosecuted and sent to very long jail terms are those swaggering thieves surrounding Kibaki’s cabinet like leeches.
Yet, the government resorts to the easy, tested and preferred route of all dictatorships –attempting to stifle debate. The government wrongly believes that by banning, proscribing and attempting to criminalize open discussion over these issues it will protect itself.
But the government is mistaken. Opposition against oppression thrives more under repressive tactics than it does in an open and democratic society. In a way, the best vaccination against opposition is openness. The attempt at shutting up Kenyans will only add pressure and frustration on the already stressed out populace. The result of that pent up force could be catastrophic to the government, in particular, and to the society at large.
According to the government’s belated threatening response, action will be taken “expeditiously” to deal with those mentioned adversely in the Ndung’u Land Report, the Goldenberg Report, the Parliamentary Accounts Committee Reports and all the other “undisclosed” reports before slaying the “Anglo Fleecing” behemoths.
There was no mention of what “expeditious” means. Neither were Kenyans told when the “reports” into sleaze would be released to the public. Simply put: President Kibaki’s government only promised to act on corruption. But knowing his government’s record on promises, we should not hold our breaths. Nothing is coming our way from Kibaki any time soon.
We have heard this for more than two years. Yet nothing has happened. Forgive us, Your Excellency and the very eminent ministers and spokesmen. But we have heard this tune played before.
As Kituyi was waxing lyrical about Kibaki’s unimpeachable reputation and commitment to the fight against corruption (yah, yah) and promising doom to the media and critical politicians all in the same breath, Kenya was still writhing in agony at the scandalous frauds and misdeeds orchestrated and perpetrated under Kibaki.
When it comes to good manners, competence and political savvy, the Kibaki government dwells with the dogs at the bottom of the heap. Someone should tell Kibaki that as citizens, we have the right to question his government as well as his method of governance. As someone with a PhD in a Social Science discipline, Kituyi must have rudimentary knowledge about a citizen’s right to call his or her government to account. That includes engaging in all lawful activities against the government, including participating in civil disobedience.
As long as citizens participate in their opposition in a peaceful manner, there is no legitimate legal action the government can threaten or institute against the people. Of course, any repressive government can bludgeon, brutalize and jail its citizens for getting involved in lawful acts. President Kibaki has to choose whether he will join the ranks of the Mobutu Sesse Sekos, Bokasas, Idi Amins, Marcos and Pinochets of this world or he will emulate Mandela.
There is nothing illegal, criminal or treasonable in criticizing the president, the presidency or the government. Threatening members of the media and politicians with treason is not the wisest thing for a president who came to power under the euphoria of anti-corruption, good governance and reform.
Kenyans are keenly watching and becoming increasingly restless as the Narc government squanders each and every available opportunity the people have accorded it in order to do the right thing. They are determined to show these pretenders that the ultimate power belongs to the people.
At this rate, we may very well believe the rumours going round about the fate of John Githongo should he make the “mistake” of returning to shed more light on the corruption scandals swirling around this Kibaki government. The president himself needs to take full responsibility for these scandals rather than hide behind the threats emanating from his ministers.
As for treason? Pliiiiz Mr. President. Try something else for a change.
______________________________________________________________________
*The writer is a Barrister & Solicitor in Toronto, Canada
By MIGUNA MIGUNA* - © 30 January 2006
Rather than deal directly, swiftly, deftly and effectively with the credible allegations of cascading graft within its ranks, President Kibaki’s government has responded with fits, tantrums and diabolical threats against the media and its critics. This strategy, although preferred by strongmen everywhere, does not generally work in the long term. In the short term, it may shut people up and create a false sense of security. But as we all know, an absence of noise and bullets does not mean that there is peace. A silenced critic is more lethal than a shouting one. For in silence, one cannot tell what is brewing inside his or her opponents.
However, since President Kibaki has chosen this route, we leave it up to him to rue its uncharted consequences.
Trade Minister Mukihisa Kituyi read an official statement threatening to “deal according to law” with “the media and politicians making utterances that cast the presidency and President Kibaki in bad light.” Kituyi was fuming and promising to unleash hell-fire in the company of Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Martha Karua, Minister for Information and Communications, Mutahi Kagwe, Minister for Planning, Henry Obwocha and Minister for Immigration, Gideon Konchella. These were the government’s big guns pointed at its perceived opponents.
Kituyi also issued another dire threat against those Kenyans who would dare “discuss or debate issues which are being investigated by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission.”
Forget about freedom of speech, press, association and assembly. As far as President Kibaki’s government is concerned, our constitutional rights as citizens are limited to discussing only petty affairs. According to this new official wisdom, the issues concerning the presidency, President Kibaki himself and his government are out of bounds for ordinary people, the media and politicians who are viewed as not supportive of the government.
This was a public relations exercise gone amok. It is disastrous beyond belief. One wonders what kind of spin doctors and advisors President Kibaki has hired. More important – what kind of leaders would issue threats against journalists and its opponents at this time? Does this government believe that it is actually in a position to threaten anyone?
President Kibaki’s government sees no need to explain which legal provisions are breached by the free, open and peaceful discourse over the alleged government involvement in grand corruption. President Kibaki himself chooses to conduct his official functions through Cabinet decoys and smart alecks like Kituyi and Karua rather than face Kenyans directly.
Clearly, the people who should have been arrested, prosecuted and sent to very long jail terms are those swaggering thieves surrounding Kibaki’s cabinet like leeches.
Yet, the government resorts to the easy, tested and preferred route of all dictatorships –attempting to stifle debate. The government wrongly believes that by banning, proscribing and attempting to criminalize open discussion over these issues it will protect itself.
But the government is mistaken. Opposition against oppression thrives more under repressive tactics than it does in an open and democratic society. In a way, the best vaccination against opposition is openness. The attempt at shutting up Kenyans will only add pressure and frustration on the already stressed out populace. The result of that pent up force could be catastrophic to the government, in particular, and to the society at large.
According to the government’s belated threatening response, action will be taken “expeditiously” to deal with those mentioned adversely in the Ndung’u Land Report, the Goldenberg Report, the Parliamentary Accounts Committee Reports and all the other “undisclosed” reports before slaying the “Anglo Fleecing” behemoths.
There was no mention of what “expeditious” means. Neither were Kenyans told when the “reports” into sleaze would be released to the public. Simply put: President Kibaki’s government only promised to act on corruption. But knowing his government’s record on promises, we should not hold our breaths. Nothing is coming our way from Kibaki any time soon.
We have heard this for more than two years. Yet nothing has happened. Forgive us, Your Excellency and the very eminent ministers and spokesmen. But we have heard this tune played before.
As Kituyi was waxing lyrical about Kibaki’s unimpeachable reputation and commitment to the fight against corruption (yah, yah) and promising doom to the media and critical politicians all in the same breath, Kenya was still writhing in agony at the scandalous frauds and misdeeds orchestrated and perpetrated under Kibaki.
When it comes to good manners, competence and political savvy, the Kibaki government dwells with the dogs at the bottom of the heap. Someone should tell Kibaki that as citizens, we have the right to question his government as well as his method of governance. As someone with a PhD in a Social Science discipline, Kituyi must have rudimentary knowledge about a citizen’s right to call his or her government to account. That includes engaging in all lawful activities against the government, including participating in civil disobedience.
As long as citizens participate in their opposition in a peaceful manner, there is no legitimate legal action the government can threaten or institute against the people. Of course, any repressive government can bludgeon, brutalize and jail its citizens for getting involved in lawful acts. President Kibaki has to choose whether he will join the ranks of the Mobutu Sesse Sekos, Bokasas, Idi Amins, Marcos and Pinochets of this world or he will emulate Mandela.
There is nothing illegal, criminal or treasonable in criticizing the president, the presidency or the government. Threatening members of the media and politicians with treason is not the wisest thing for a president who came to power under the euphoria of anti-corruption, good governance and reform.
Kenyans are keenly watching and becoming increasingly restless as the Narc government squanders each and every available opportunity the people have accorded it in order to do the right thing. They are determined to show these pretenders that the ultimate power belongs to the people.
At this rate, we may very well believe the rumours going round about the fate of John Githongo should he make the “mistake” of returning to shed more light on the corruption scandals swirling around this Kibaki government. The president himself needs to take full responsibility for these scandals rather than hide behind the threats emanating from his ministers.
As for treason? Pliiiiz Mr. President. Try something else for a change.
______________________________________________________________________
*The writer is a Barrister & Solicitor in Toronto, Canada