Why NMG must maintain strong stance on politicisation of security

In the Monday ‘Memo’ on NTV, and a rare full-length editorial in the Daily Nation on Tuesday, titled “Pursue and arraign culprits in church attack,” the Nation team strongly condemned the violent attacks on worshippers during church services attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Columnist Macharia Gaitho, too, called for a stop to the police brutality.

The editorials and commentary, which followed the attack on worshippers in Othaya on Sunday, not only called for a stop to the brutality, but also for an investigation into the incident, and previous ones, with a view to bringing the culprits to book. Regrettably, three days later, there’s only a cloud of silence about the incident.

At a time when the country is so polarised, with politicians competing not only for voters but also for their kingpin’s ear, it was commendable of NMG to alert the country to the dangers of political violence.

Violent crackdown and police raids on perceived enemies of the government have become too frequent for comfort. The high frequency of these incidents risks normalising political violence and ultimately turning the country into a lawless State.

More than the terror that is unleashed on politicians and innocent Kenyans, the violence is about control, exclusion, dominance over certain groups and subjugation of some people, all of which create a fertile ground for abuse of human rights and undermine accountability, democracy and the rule of law. And it is more worrying when the police or other security forces are used to perpetrate the violence.

Security is not like any other public service. Security officers across all divisions take an oath to protect the country and its citizens and to stand with the Constitution. They make a covenant to be there for Kenya and Kenyans. It does not matter to Kenyans whether the fallout between Mr Gachagua and his boss was political or personal. Neither does it matter that some leaders consider the former DP a threat to their political survival. What matters is the integrity of the institutions tasked with maintaining law and order.

When police officers become villains, or appear to be under the command of vigilantes and individual politicians, they undermine the integrity of the National Police Service as the law and order pillar of the country. When the men and women in the police service bastardise the solemn oath they took, it shows that they are not fit for the job. And when the leadership of the police appears to be clueless, it sends the alarm that law and order are absent.

But far from engendering partisan politicians to the Executive, these acts of hooliganism undermine it. In fact, the Executive should be worried not only about the damage to its reputation, but also to the country’s stability from such incidents. Kenya’s history is replete with State-orchestrated violence against its own people. Looking back at 2007, and every election cycle, it is obvious that these acts are targeted at the 2027 elections.

The Nation editorials called out those responsible for these acts, which should attract treasonable consequences. The editors have shown that, when the going gets tough, the media must remind the leaders of their duty to the country. It is hoped that they listened to the ‘Memo’ and read the editorial.

The editorials were not just a catalogue of what is going wrong. It was also a reminder to the men and women who swore to protect the public that they should wake up and do their job. Additionally, it was testimony to the fact that many civic-minded Kenyans are aware of the everyday actions pushing the country to the edge.

The Nation team must not allow this matter to rest before action is taken against the culprits. It must not relent in demanding accountability. The buck stops with the Cabinet Secretary of Internal Security and the Inspector-General of Police.

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The Public Editor, likewise, commends the ‘Fixing the Nation’ crew for boldly calling out incompetence at the Ministry of Education following the junior to senior school transition fiasco. Not only is the ministry unable to state how much it costs to educate a child in Kenya, but there’s also no clarity on what is really going on regarding the implementation of the education system. It is indeed time to call the officials who are gambling with the future of our children to order.

However, NMG must now play its civic role of leading the conversation on the issue and stimulating action. Where the ministry has fallen short, the editors must seek out competent education experts to provide solutions.

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