First, may I express my heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and relatives of Kenyans who were brutally murdered in Mpeketoni. I also wish the injured people a speedy recovery.
A couple of weeks ago, the dreaded “white widow” who has been linked to terrorism was reported to have sneaked into Lamu. Our security agencies were quick to dismiss the story.
Shortly thereafter, we have witnessed the brutal attack, and the usual suspect, Al-Shabaab, has claimed responsibility.
There have been simmering tensions underpinned by historical and injustices at the Coast particularly in Kiunga, Hindi /Magogoni, Mukunumbi, Lamu, Witu, Garsen, Malindi, Kilifi andparts of Kwale. These are grievances that nobody can sweep under the carpet.
In addition, the Coast has witnessed a wave of attacks that have left many clerics, both Muslims and Christians dead. These have been followed by no arrests and no prosecutions, save for the unhelpful excuses from the government.
As usual, they will blame it on the lack of cooperation by the residents who harbour criminals, accuse anybody and everybody and the matter will then be left to rest as we wait for the next tragedy to occur. Of course CS Joseph Ole Lenku has come in his usual display of incompetence: “It is political...”.
The serious land question, religious rifts, plummeting economy, dying tourism, runaway corruption — the list is long — are issues that must be discussed and addressed. Yet many Jubilee politicians are busy calling us in Cord reckless, power-hungry, bad losers, formentors of rebellion and warning us of dire consequences of “crossing red line”.
Incompetent structures of the IEBC that pose a grave danger to future elections, hence national security; the obviously disjointed and ineffective security structures; the emerging ogre of tribalism in state appointments; the chaotictransport systems; an economy on its knees; the dismal performance of our diplomatic engagement; threats to devolution; the re-invention of the Provincial Administration that Kenyans rejected — all these call for national talks.
Back to Mpeketoni. Cord demands thorough public investigations into not just the incident, but the root causes of such incidents.
I call upon my brother President Uhuru Kenyatta to realise that in leadership, one has to take painful decisions for the greater good, even if those failing the state are friends, relations or political debtors; there comes a time when individual, private, ethnic or class interests have to crumble in the face of public good. This is such a time.
MOSES WETANG’ULA is the Senate Minority Leader, Cord co-principal and Ford-Kenya leader.
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