Parliamentary 'mob lynching' confirms we are on our own

DP Rigathi Gachagua’s circumstances today should be a reminder to all people in authority that power is transient, and tomorrow it will be you; Martha Karua. [DPCS]

This week, the country witnessed the first impeachment of a deputy president of the republic by the National Assembly through a process that can only, at best, be described as a charade.

Although the process is enshrined in the constitution of Kenya under articles 145 and 150, it was disheartening to see the National Assembly degrade itself into a lynch mob.

All along, we knew the National Assembly was largely gone, but to see such a high threshold of highly educated and well socialized individuals administer mob justice was disturbing.

It is not about the person in question but about having a system that is fair to all irrespective of their circumstances and political persuasion. Rigathi Gachagua is no angel but like any citizen, he deserves due process not mob lynching.

What we must all be painfully aware of is that participating or acquiescing to the violation of another person’s rights, is laying the foundation of the violation of your own rights.

Besides the unfairness of it all, the motion was unpopular. Kenyans who observed public participation wondered where such a high number supporting the impeachment came from.

This type of manipulation of figures is reminiscent of what happened in the 2022 general elections. It is the very same impunity that parliament displayed while passing the 2024 Finance Bill oblivious of its overwhelming rejection by Kenyans.

The National Assembly manipulated a constitutional process, sacrificing the spirit and ideals of constitutionalism on the altar of self-preservation. Members failed to discern what this conduct means to the country, but also to them as individuals.

Gachagua and some of those who administered mob justice to him were a happy lot during their honeymoon in power, while berating President Uhuru Kenyatta and orchestrating a raid on his family farm.

They berated the media, courts of law, and trashed every person who attempted to hold them accountable. Nothing good could come from the media, courts or the opposition. They then felt invincible.

Gachagua’s circumstances today should be a reminder to each one of them and to all people in authority that power is transient, and tomorrow it will be you.

In the words of William Shakespeare, “we still have judgment here; that we but teach bloody instructions, which being taught, return to plague the inventor.”

This is partly the reason why we must invest in systems that work even for our worst enemies. Beyond this, however, is the greater reason for guaranteeing our prosperity as a people, and peace.

It is unfortunate that the National Assembly is confirming its rubber-stamp identity at a time when, more than ever before, we need a watchdog to check on a rogue executive which has grossly violated citizens human rights.

The state is presiding over extrajudicial killings of peaceful protestors, has executed multiple abductions coupled with detention without trial, arbitrary arrests and arraignment on trumped up charges and intimidation of people with divergent political views.

This is also happening at a time we need a watchdog to stop the now infamous and opaque Adani airport concession, and similarly opaque power transmission concession, the criminalization of indigenous agriculture, the violation of citizens' access to health and education through SHIF and botched education funding model.

It is happening when a plot to extend the term limits of the President and elected officials has been hatched and a Constitutional Amendment bill already tabled before the Senate.

The National Assembly has once again exhibited it cannot be our watchdog nor does it represent the views and aspirations of the people they represent. It has become a willing stooge of the executive.

All right thinking Kenyans should now rally together, and stop feeding this monster which now threatens our very existence. Kenyans must now begin to appreciate that they are alone.

With this awareness, Kenyans must then begin to unite in defense of the constitution, and for the restoration of good governance and human dignity which the present regime is destroying.

Our collective fate as a people lies in our hands. Let us hope that the Senate will prove itself worthy of the status of upper house. If the Senate behaves like the National Assembly, it will confirm our worst fears that we do not have parliament. 

Ms Karua is party leader, Narc Kenya