The news is not good out of Kenya. Not totally worrisome yet but troubling.
Several public demonstrations which I see as markers of robust democracy have been met with too much government force. We all know the counter reactions this brings, and that’s what worries me.
If the Kenyan authorities don’t soften their act soon, all the progress Kenya has made in the last 12-15 months will be lost.
It began last month with university demonstrations. In the last few days two completely separate incidents, one involving a protest of the election commission and another regarding the arrest of a Muslim cleric both degenerated into a real mess when the police unnecessarily fired teargas, shot into the crowds and starting beating protesters.
We know what using too much force does: spawns more violence. This morning more protests continued in the streets of Nairobi and so far, anyway, the police are behaving themselves.
The issues aren’t really the issue. University demonstrations are chronic through Africa, protests over election officials seem endless, and the mounting religious tensions all over the continent are leading to religious demonstrations.
Nothing’s wrong with all of that. Healthy protest is a reflection of a healthy democracy and is supposed to generate a mediation or negotiation process that leads to lessening tensions.
But in Kenya recently, just the opposite is happening.
The government is clamping down like never before. Police action is brutal. At least five protesters in the demonstration against the arrest of the Muslim cleric were killed by police. Photographs suggest some police state in creation.
In the case of the protests over the election commission, there were less than 80 or 90 people protesting, almost the same number of police who confronted them.
That one is particularly troubling as it could be harbinger for the 2017 national elections, and even more poignant because among those tear-gassed was Raila Odinga, the leader of the opposition.
Almost simultaneously other small violent protests erupted in other parts of western Kenya where Odinga commands the polity.
Even a hint of upcoming election violence could doom all of Kenya’s progress in the last few years.
Kenya has enjoyed remarkable peace over the last year compared to the terrorist inflicted violence that destroyed tourism several years ago. Its economy is good and the people seem prosperous.
It’s all on the table, now, and it’s all a simple matter of how to deal with opposition.
The answer is not police batons and tear gas.
It is not surprising that the government of Kenya acts this way. It is unbelievable that the citizens of Kenya elected a president who has been indicted by the ICC and without has blood on his hands. It wouldn’t be surprising if he was in some way involved with Al Shabab. What’s the answer? Good Government,but how will Kenya get it, we can only hope a good one turns up, as happens with their neighbours in Tanzania
You are biased on your piece, what qualifies as a peaceful protest? 1000 people trying to bring down a gate to storm an office and eject officials who are legally in office, Is that what you call peaceful?
Even the West have used tear-gas on many occasions what about killing of unarmed blacks across US.
For you Neil , Our President went through Hague and was cleared and if you think someone should be there then start with the US and take the likes of George Bush senior & junior who have blood on their hands.
Your articles that try to patronise Kenya has no place in modern world,
You simply do not understand matters Kenya and you know what, Keep your advice to yourself.
You are indeed correct that peaceful political & non-political demonstrations are sign of a healthy and vibrant democracy in any Nation. Indeed the Kenyan constitution provides for the right to demonstrate peacefully. However, when lawlessness & hooliganism creep in, the demonstration ceases to be peaceful. Whereas the leaders/conveners of these demonstrations themselves may not be the perpetrators of the lawless and anti-social behavior that has become the norm at demonstrations, fact is that some of their supporters, & indeed others who have no idea or interest in the purpose for the demonstration, take advantage of the situation and escalate what was intended to be a peaceful & law abiding demonstration into a street war of stone throwing, looting, attacking innocent motorists and innocent pedestrians who are in the right place at the wrong time. Are you aware that there is a Traffic Police Officer currently fighting for his life after being stoned by the ‘demonstrators’? So whereas the authorities need to be tolerant of genuinely peaceful and law abiding demonstrations, which indeed they are, they also have a duty to enforce the law when it is being broken and if indeed it means the use of measured force to protect legally constituted institutions, businesses, buildings and innocent people from the hooligans and thugs who take advantage of the situation, then that is what has to be done. This does not make Kenya a Police state. The use of force to normalize a dangerous situation is not unique to Kenya or to Africa & neither are non-peaceful demonstrations and protests. The leaders/conveners of demonstrations also have a duty to continually ensure that the demonstration remains peaceful and within the confines of the law. The IEBC is a constitutionally established electoral body. It may be rotten in the eyes of some, but the way to remove the commissioners is not by storming their offices. This is a very old fashioned approach to change. It has been reported that GoK has agreed to have dialogue with the opposition on the issue of IEBC which is what they have been asking for. This is progress. I am glad that you recognize that Kenya has made progress in the last couple of years. If indeed you are a friend of Kenya please continue to support our progress by sharing your concerns objectively. Thank you.
Hi Mohammed
Your President has not been cleared by the ICC, and your government is trying its best to cover and mislead the investigation. It is common knowledge in Kenya that Uhuru uses violence to keep the citizens of Kenya in place, and that he used Munkiki to incite violence after the elections in which Kibaki won, this is hardly surprising as his father did the same using the mau may to gain independence in 63. You have a police force in Nairobi which is judge jury and executioner when it comes to dealing with criminals and now it seems also with demonstrators. I say again Kenya needs a good government but it won’t have it with a criminal as President.
Neil , You know what we elected him and if you dont like him too bad. He is our president . You obviously hate him but he will not loose sleep over you.
Not only does your president not loose sleep over me, he doesn’t loose sleep over hundreds of his citizens protesting and getting beaten up. Whether I like your president is irrelevant as we are trying to discuss the brutal methods used against protesters, ultimately the responsibility lays with the president, and yours in the eyes of the world is not doing much. I would have thought as you are involved with tourism that you would like to see this violence against citizens stop. These images of protesters getting beaten up by police will stop people visiting your country. You should look to Tanzania and see how their new president is doing and then follow the example.