As Hardliners In Kibaki Government Reign Supreme
It was here in Kumekucha, early last month that we informed you that the International community was discussing possible Visa bans against prominent Kenyans who have contributed to the crisis in the country.
As you read this 10 Kenyans from both sides of the political divide are already on a list that should be made public soon. This initial list has no surprises and includes mainly individuals who should have had this Visa ban slapped on them years ago. Most of them featured prominently in the infamous Kroll report. As it is some analysts feel that it is too little late. However there is no denying the fact that it will hurt the individuals and their immediate families a great deal. Students will be deported from universities and wives who enjoyed frequent London or Dubai shopping trips will have less to talk and brag about at their next social.
But what should be even more interesting is the next list of 30 that the Americans have revealed that they are working on. Unconfirmed reports reaching Kumekucha indicate that the name of Dr Alfred Mutua the government spokesman may be on that list for issuing inflammatory statements before and after the crisis. Naturally this means that the name of his wife is also on the said list.
If this report turns out to be true numerous Kenyans will be delighted. It is even more hilarious because Mutua has recently released a statement praising the Visa ban and calling for the release of the names of persons on the list.
The so-called government spokesman has behaved in a manner that has put the entire PR profession into disrepute and derision. One friend has described him as “a nasty piece of work.” In fact charges should be preferred against Dr Mutua and his counterpart at the police headquarters, this Kiraithe man for spreading falsehoods. It is ludicrous that Kenyans expect their young ones and future generations to be model citizens incapable of picking up pangas to attack their neighbors when they lack role models and instead have the likes of Mutua and Kiraithe to look up to who repeatedly go on air to spread blatant lies in full view of their own children and even grand children. Remember the widely circulated story from Kiraithe and company to the effect that the clip showing a policeman shooting and killing an unarmed demonstrator in Kisumu was computer generated trickery akin to a Rambo movie? The latest is that the police officer involved, Edward Kirui has been arrested and will be charged with murder. See what I am talking about?
The inclusion of Mutua’s name on the list may just end up saving thousands of Kenyan youths from turning into serial liars and criminals.
Meanwhile the actions of the Kibaki administration clearly indicates that after weeks of uncertainty, the hardliners are firmly back at the helm. The idea of having both an Igad and East African Community meeting in Nairobi was the kind of evil idea that would only have emerged from the Kitchen cabinet. This group of old men seem to have been under the illusion that nobody would think much of the meetings and nobody would guess what their intentions were—namely to legitimize the Kibaki government. Actually this is one of the major causes of the crisis; that is people in the Kibaki government assuming that Kenyans are fools. The EAC meeting was postponed late yesterday and it is clear this happened because of the pressure from the opposition and the civil society.
What should worry Kenyans even more is that the hardliners are fully in charge as the so-called Annan peace talks are going on. It is already quite clear that the Kibaki camp will never change its’ position and they are only at the negotiating table to buy time so that things cool down.
Nothing but divine intervention can save Kenya now.
