The Bill of Rights allows all Kenyans several freedoms among them freedom of movement, freedom of association and freedom of speech.
These freedoms come with non-negotiable responsibilities. Freedom of movement and life are guaranteed to everybody in all the corners of Kenya. So is freedom of choice and these should not be threatened by anyone exercising their freedom of speech.
On January 8, a number of politicians accompanied deputy President William Ruto to Eldoret Sports Club grounds for his mega political rally. Among those leaders was Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, who had an opportunity, like other leaders, to address the crowd.
His speech was one most unfortunate, irresponsible and with potential to do great damage to the peace and cohesion of the country. Linturi likened those who did not support DP’s presidential bid as “madoadoa”, and should be rejected in the DP’s backyard.
“Madoadoa” is a Swahili word that refers to spots and contextually can mean unwanted spots. In his speech, the senator was not referring to a piece of cloth, he was referring to people, and not just people, but “unwanted people”.
This is not a new term to Kenyans, and it is not pleasant to remember either. In 1992, for instance, the term was used to refer to Kikuyus who were massively evicted from their land in the Rift Valley.
It was again used in the build up to the 2007 General Election, to refer to those who held a different political stand from what was considered to be the stand of the majority in the Rift Valley.
What followed was the dreadful bloodshed and mass displacement of people following the disputed election outcome. More than 1,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands of people were reduced to the indignity of being displaced from their homes and land in their own country. Having witnessed that horrific scenario in the past, one would not expect any Kenyan, much less a leader, to make such inflammatory remarks.
Well, we could say that it’s what political leaders are known for. They will win elections through any means necessary. But the time when leaders used to get away with hate speech and fear mongering are long gone.
Kenyans have learned to embrace and protect their peace because clearly, some of their leaders will not do it for them. A Kenyan from Northern Kenya can be in Eastern and not be bound by the political convictions of the majority there.
Another in Southern Kenya can be in the Rift Valley and not be bound by the political stand of the majority in the area.
Simply put, the right to free political choice is not a favor extended to Kenyans by anyone. It is an absolute right. Kenyans have become wiser and will not be coerced or intimidated, in an effort to whip them in a desired political direction.
Kenyans will step on their soil with confidence and through the ballot, make it clear that fear is not an option for them. The message will be loud and clear when they vote resoundingly against champions of chaos.
In his defence, Senator Linturi and his allies maintained he was not referring to people of different ethnic groups being in the area but leaders who do not support DP Ruto’s bid.
How is this any better? Is the primary idea of democracy not letting people make their own political choices? Is it not the locals who know their leaders and thus better placed to make the best choices? What if the best person for any of the other elective positions is opposed to the Deputy President’s bid for presidency? Should they settle for a worse option just because the best choice does not fit into a certain political matrix?
This idea of politically capturing the mind of voters is an outdated illusion that has no place in modern Kenya.
Senator Linturi is not the only person who has made such remarks in the political scene. Several other leaders are on record “assuring” their locals that those who are not going to return a political favour will face consequences. These are enemies of peace and cohesion and are a threat to the freedom to make liberal choices.
As the authorities do their best to rein in errant fear mongering politicians, Kenyans will also make a clear statement through the ballot that such behavior does not belong in a country as great as Kenya.
