State should make Kenyans feel safe
By Editorial.Team, July 21, 2023In the blame game that ensued after last week’s maandamano, one fact was conspicuously poignant from the statements issued by both Kenya Kwanza and Azimio leaders.
While the Kenya Kwanza team led by President William Ruto came out with guns blazing over the destruction of property and violence meted out on the day, they uttered no word on the more than 10 reported deaths.
On the other hand, Azimio leader Raila Odinga made no mention of the property worth millions of shillings destroyed in the demos.
The Ruto team has been criticised for appearing impervious to the innocent lives lost mainly by police officers brought in to quell the riots while the Raila group was ambivalent about property destroyed by the mob.
While the exact number of innocent people killed by police bullets cannot be authenticated, the losses being incurred by the business community cannot also be gainsaid.
The government has evidently failed to take sufficient action to hold police and their commanders to account for killings and attacks on protesters. Likewise, the Azimio brigade has failed to contain their supporters from engaging in looting, destruction of property and violence.
Independent investigations should be urgently carried out into all deaths and apparent unjustified use of force by the police, and all relevant authorities including the national police service, should publicly guarantee the right of everyone to peaceful assembly and protest in future.
Ahead of this week’s demos, there were apparent war cries from both sides of the political divide. President Ruto gathered his troops at State House and urged them to use everything at their disposal to counter the Azimio demos.
This is in addition to a directive to the police to ruthlessly deal with rioters as police commanders were warned to ready themselves to take responsibility for any form of protest that would take place in their jurisdictions.
The Opposition did not make matters any better with their claims of the formation of a killer squad to eliminate their leaders. The ping-ping between the warring sides has spark immense panic amongst the populace.
It is the responsibility of the government to not only protect property and lives but to also cultivate a conducive environment for business.