We must remain sane and within the Constitution

2010 Constitution dummy on fire along Moi Avenue, Nairobi, during anti-Finance Bill protests on June 25, 2024. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

One of the most testing moments for Kenya’s political stability was in 2007/2008, following the post-election violence.

More than 1,300 people died, many were maimed, and over 600,000 displaced. I was a student at Moi University then, and I saw firsthand what just a few days of political instability can cause.

It was never by luck that we came out of it in one piece. It took courage, wisdom, and sacrifice on the part of the two protagonists, Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga. Thankfully, the crisis set off a new wave of reforms, culminating in the 2010 Constitution.

Nobody really wants to talk about what would have happened if the two had hardened their hearts for a little longer, but we know things would not have been the same.

The current political crisis is obviously different. It started and to a large extent remains a pure expression of frustration for the young people, whose future hangs in the balance. However, as was expected, rogue elements in the security and political setup infiltrated what were otherwise peaceful demonstrations, and started to tether on dangerous grounds.

That’s how we saw hard working business people lose their fortunes to looters and arsonists as police watched. That is why we are burying our young men and women, as the whereabouts of many others remain unknown after being felled by bullets. This is the danger of a moment like the one we are experiencing.

The president may not have acted as quickly as people expected, but he has acted soon enough to block our eyes from the other side of the coin if this crisis had been left simmering for longer. It is a bold thing for an African president to succumb to pressure, retract a contentious bill and dissolve Cabinet.

Though that is what most people wanted, there are those hideous characters who hoped he would continue to harden his heart and give room for other machinations.

Even in these times of anger and shouts of 'Ruto Must Go', the same Constitution that has given us power to do so, must remain supreme. That Constitution outlines possible grounds on which the president can leave office, which include gross violation of the law, gross misconduct, incapacity, or committing a crime under national law or international law.

If he exits for whatever reason, the Deputy President takes over power for the remainder of the term. The biggest achievement at the moment is that the people in power, including the president, have realised they cannot be above the people and the Constitution.

The most reasonable route to pursue at the moment is to wait for August, when current MPs will have served at least two years, because that is only when the act of recalling them can be activated. We must sustain the anger, even in the counties and at all levels where power has been delegated. However, for a change of leadership at the top, 2027 remains the best bet.

-The writer is anchor Radio Maisha