Why we are on our own with parliamentary 'mob lynching'

When Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua appeared in the National Assembly Chambers to defend himself against an impeachment motion. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

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

Although the process is enshrined in the Constitution 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-socialised 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. Deputy President 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 rights.

Besides the unfairness of it all, the impeachment 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, 2024, 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 meant 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, and 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 of them and 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 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.

Unfortunately, the National Assembly is confirming its rubber-stamp identity when, more than ever, we need a watchdog to check on a rogue executive who has grossly violated citizens' human rights.

The State is presiding over extra-judicial killings of peaceful protesters, 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 criminalisation 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 has already been 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 on their own.

Ms Karua is the party leader, Narc Kenya