Former Tana River Governor Hussein Dado, when he was endorsed by elders from Bangale subcounty as governor candidate in 2027 /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Former Tana River Governor Hussein Dado has condemned Monday’s demonstrations, saying the spirit of Saba Saba was hijacked by self-serving politicians and unruly elements.
Many businesses chose not to open, with security officers erecting road blocks to feeder roads in major towns and cities – Nairobi being the most affected.
Dado said what was meant to be a solemn day of reflection and peaceful advocacy had unfortunately been turned into an avenue for inciting violence, looting and the destruction of property.
“Saba saba was started when the likes of Kenneth Matiba
and Charles Rubia were detained. It was a historic day rooted in the fight for democracy
and justice in Kenya. The constitution that we later come to have was a result of
their effort and struggle,” Dado said.
“ Unfortunately, what we witnessed yesterday
were actions that not only dishonoured the legacy of those who fought for our
freedom, but also threatened the safety and livelihoods of ordinary Kenyans."
He spoke in Bangale subcounty after he was endorsed by elders to run for the 2027 governor's seat.
The former interior CAS thanked the area youth for maintaining peace, urged them not to allow anyone to use their energy, dreams and frustrations to destabilise
the country, since the police will deal ruthlessly with such
individuals.
He said the use of goons to orchestrate chaos, looting
and destruction of property to push
personal or political agendas must be condemned by all right-thinking Kenyans.
“Kenya is our country; it belongs to all of us. We don’t
have any other country. If we don’t safeguard it then be rest assured no one will
do that for us,” Dado said.
“And please don’t be cheated that the police are not
allowed to take action when needed. A police officer is allowed under our constitution
to use their firearm to protect the lives and property of their citizens. So even
as you engage in civil discourse, do it responsibly,” the former governor said.
Dado said that while the country has grown democratically, freedom of speech and expression must be exercised responsibly.
He warned the youth against going the Somalia route and destroying their country.
“I do not want tribal votes but the votes of all the people of Tana River because, as you are all aware, ours is a cosmopolitan county. We are peaceful people and we do not want any conflicts,” Dado said.
“There is a challenge here in Madogo brought by the
Kayole criminal gang. These children have ventured into crime because of a lack
of jobs. Once we take over, we will create income-earning opportunities for them."
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi last week appointed Dado as the chairperson of the Public Service Superannuation Fund Board of Trustees.
The elders who spoke in the meeting called for unity, saying deadly inter-community
conflicts are a thing of the past.
They urged the youth to avoid being used by politicians to cause violence, noting that politics should be about character, manifestos and development.
