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Why President In Army Fatigues Should Worry Us
President Uhuru Kenyatta at Statehouse Mombasa. Photo/Elkana Jacob
At least twice in the recent past, President Uhuru has officiated military functions while clad in army fatigues. In the characteristic propaganda system of his administration, photos of him appear almost in real time and are shared far and wide. While his supporters argue that it is harmless and ‘his right’, what he is doing is wrong.
There is absolutely something badass about the President in fatigues, at least for a country that has never had a successful military coup or a military government. Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Moi occasionally wore ceremonial military uniforms but the democratic principles of their successive reigns should not be emulated. Kenya’s dalliance with democracy has been sloppy, with Moi exercising a troubling chokehold on military command after the attempted coup of 1982. Moi, ever the performer, could inspect the guard of honour with a flawless military march, but he was almost always in a suit.
Civilian leadership of the military is a principle that must not only be law, but must be seen to be done. The capitalisation of the entire legal command within the Office of the President is meant to ensure that we do not slide into a military dictatorship. The President is bound by democratic principles; primarily that he will not extend the power of the arm of government he heads, the executive, using his hold on the military command. The constitution provides the basis of the President as Commander-in-Chief, specifically, a civilian head of the military. Had he been the Chief of Staff of the military, he would have first had to resign from his position to run as a civilian presidential candidate.
Last month, there was some disquiet in the United States after President Obama returned the salute of a troop of Marine Corps. The issue was that the Office of the President is the civilian head of the military and is fundamentally separate from the military structure. This is a matter of law and fact for any country that has a democratic leadership. When World War II hero Dwight D Eisenhower ascended to the presidency in 1952, he shed his military fatigues and all that pertained to that role. For someone who had spent the entirety of his adulthood in the military structure, he never gave the military salute because he understood the separation of his new office and his old office.
Even closer home, General Olusegun Obasanjo’s decision to run as a civilian candidate for a position he had held once before as a military dictator was a fundamental precedent. Obasanjo is often lauded for voluntarily giving up power in the 70s to a civilian government. As a civilian President, he avoided his former official uniform because he understood wearing military fatigues would conjure traumatic memories of past military dictatorships in Nigeria.
Kenya will do well to learn from her neighbours about how quickly a country can become a military dictatorship. The armed forces become the judge, jury and executioner and before long, the people begin to cry for a civilian king they can effectively control and vote out if they are dissatisfied. Rather than watch their President’s increasing troubling comfort with donning military fatigues, Kenyans should seek to remind him that he holds the office by virtue of their vote, not military experience.
As a country at war, it is prudent for the President to do all that he can to ensure that he reminds the troops of their role as citizens beyond all else. Kenya is the only East African country that has a President who has no military background. That uniqueness tells a lot about the traditional separation of the military and its civilian leadership.
In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni dons military fatigues whenever he wants to make a point such as intimidate the opposition or win a fraudulent election. It also implies that he holds the presidency, not by virtue of a majority vote but through conquest.
By appearing in military fatigues while officiating military functions, Uhuru is blurring the delicate distinction between the office he holds as a civilian head and his command over the military. He is not a member of the military simply by virtue of his constitutional duty to command it. The President must always be a civilian. He commands the military in the people’s name.
Morris Kiruga is a writer and a blogger. This article was first published on www.africadevelopmenttalk.com?
WETANG'ULA WAS NOT DRUNK - SENATORS
PROTEST: Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang?ula addresses the media at Serena Beach Hotel in Mombasa yesterday. Photo/Andrew Kasuku
Cord co-principal Moses Wetang'ula yesterday asserted Kenyan travel authorities are plotting to “embarrass and humiliate” opposition leaders.
Addressing a press conference in Mombasa, Wetang'ula did not respond when asked if he was drunk during a quarrel with Kenya Airways staff over his lack of identification for security purposes.
His Senate colleagues said, however, the suggestion of intoxication was not true. “We were all there and let there be no claims of any wrongdoing on the part of Wetang'ula.
There was nothing to do with arrogance. He did not force himself into the plane,” Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe said. “This discourteous behavior of KQ staff must stop. KQ is a public entity and must be bound by corporate governance principles.
There is a way they could have politely dealt with the matter,” Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow told reporters. In the end, Wetang'ula boarded the flight Thursday night. The case generated considerable discussion and not everyone agreed with Wetang'ula.
Nominated senator Martha Wangari yesterday posted on Facebook that she faced a similar situation, lack of ID, but she was allowed to board because she was polite.
"This morning I was almost having a Weta Kenya Airways situation. I forgot my ID (I never do that). I was however nice to the ladies serving me and they allowed me to board.
"My take on the whole saga with Weta is simple — just be nice! You dont have to shout or quarrel, expecting they know you ... Be humble and explain if you forgot."
At the press Mombasa press conference, Senate Minority leader Wetang'ula pointed out that two months ago, Cord leader Raila Odinga was denied access to the VIP section at the Wilson Airport when he was heading to Taita Taveta county.
“I believe this is a plot by travel authorities to embarrass and humiliate leaders, especially those in opposition, and subject them to unnecessary psychological and emotional torture in public,” he said.
Referring to the Raila airport episode, he said: "Together with Senators Johnstone Muthama and I and other leaders, he watched as the airport staff locked up the door to the lounge and kept the key,” Wetang'ula said.
Late Thursday, Wetang'ula is said to have scuffled with Kenya Airways staff after he was asked to produce identification documents for security purposes.
He was traveling to Mombasa for a senate function with other senators. At the press conference yesterday at the Serena Hotel, Wetang'ula accused airline staff of arrogance and demanded the management apologise. “I am distressed because this situation undermines my standing and dignity as a leader in this country.
I will write to the management of KQ for an apology. If they don’t apologise, I retain the right to sue,” he said. He threatened to reassess his continuing relationship with the airline, which he said he had helped to open new routes during his tenure at the Foreign ministry.
Wetang'ula further accused KQ management of “profiling elected leaders for humiliation” and said at least three similar cases involved other leaders. He did not elaborate. KQ yesterday defended its decision to demand identification from the Bungoma senator before allowing him to depart.
Through the COO and CEO-designate Mbuvi Ngunze, the national carrier said all passengers must produce identification cards as required by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. “Kenya Airways wishes to clarify that as per its security programme approved by the KCAA, all passengers must show a form of photo ID prior to boarding an aircraft, either during check-in or boarding.
These requirements are posted at all passenger-accessible areas at all airports,” Ngunze said. Due to high insecurity, his staff had to implement the directives, he said.
“Kenya Airways operate in a highly regulated industry and in the context of the prevailing security environment, these measures become imperative,” he said.
According to eyewitness accounts, Wetang'ula arrived at the airport alongside Speaker Ekwee Ethuro, checked in and was issued a boarding pass.
But before the aircraft taxied, KQ staff boarded the aircraft and asked Wetang'ula, who was then with fellow senators in the first-class section, to get off the plane.
They said he had failedito produce an ID in accordance with the new rules published by KCAA. "I explained to the airline staff that I forgot to pick my ID card from the travel bag, which my driver and security officer had driven to Mombasa ahead of me," Wetang'ula told reporters.
"When they insisted, I produced my KQ Frequent Flyer Platinum Card, which bears my name, my Parliamentary medical card, which has my photo and all the five bank credit cards — just to prove that it was me, but none of them could hear this," he said. Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko defended KQ on his Facebook page.
Sonko said President Uhuru Kenyatta always produces identification documents when flying and other Kenyans should do the same. “Hata mimi (even me) and the President show IDs and passports. We need to discuss development, not personal issues ...,” he said.
Mudavadi prepares to ditch UDF
Musalia Mudavadi.Photo/File
THE UDF party leader Musalia Mudavadi may have canceled the planned party national delegates’ conference (NDC) this Friday to pave the way for the launch of a new party.
Mudavadi has been pushing to re-brand UDF into Amani National Coalition (ANC) but reports indicate the name had already been reserved by another person.
Multiple sources told the Star yesterday that Mudavadi could be exploring the option of abandoning the party all together for a new political outfit to prepare for 2017 polls.
The sources declined to give the name of the party to be launched.
“Talk of a new party has been on for a long time but its launch cannot be today or tomorrow the way you are saying but you may have got the inference right,” said Mudavadi’s private secretary Kibisu Kabatesi when reached on phone yesterday.
Kabatesi said that the NDC was canceled due to logistical reasons. He said that it is meant to give a chance to branches that have not completed harmonization exercise.
A source (Party director of operations Sande Oyalo) said that Mudavadi has found himself in awkward position in the ongoing battle for control of the party with Chairman Hassan Osman.
“He is left with two options; he should go silent and re-arm himself before restarting the war on Osman again or leave the party and register a new one,” the source said.
The source said that the Mudavadi faction was likely to lose the case at the tribunal because the absence of the secretary general’s signature at the registrar of political parties leaves party chairman Hassan Osman the only legal signatory.
“In looking for a party you either buy the whole party or just form yours and not negotiating for positions. We saw this when Raila Odinga lost ODM-K to Kalonzo Musyoka, William Ruto abandoned UDM after he was frustrated in its takeover,” said the source.
Another source said that UDF constitution allows the chairman and secretary general to transact business of the party but Dan Ameyo who is still registered as secretary was not replaced after he resigned on appointment as Mumias sugar chairman.
The source said the alternate signature is for Abraham Limo who is in Osman’s camp since Ameyo’s exit was not replaced. The source said that several of UDF MPs, most of them from Western are gravitating towards deputy president William Ruto.
Youngest MCA in suicide attempt after alleged split with girlfriend - See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-195444/youngest-mca-suicide-attempt-after-alleged-split-girlfriend#sthash.X5BeixOq.dpuf
A file photo of Munge Kibiwott after he was elected Parkerra ward rep in 2013 Photo/File
A Baringo member of the county assembly is recuperating at a private hospital in Nakuru following a suicide attempt at his home in Kabarnet town on Thursday.
20 year old Kibiwott Munge who is the youngest MCA in the country after he was elected to represent Perkera Lembus ward when he was just 19 years old was rushed to the Kabarnet district hospital on Thursday before he was transferred to Nakuru early Friday.
It was not immediately known the reason the young legislator wanted to end his life but sources intimated that he took a bottle of poison following difficulties in his personal life.
There was no immediate confirmation from the police or county government officials about the matter. Baringo County Chief Officer for Health Services Dr Gideon Toromo however confirmed that the young MCA was indeed admitted in hospital.
“We cannot talk on the reason of his hospitalization. These are not matters to be addressed in the press,” Toromo said when contacted.
Colleagues at the county assembly who refused to be named over the sensitivity of the matter however revealed that Munge had been undergoing a hard time since a recent split with his girlfriend.
The lady who is said to be a librarian at Mt Kenya University’s Kabarnet Campus is said to be courting someone else and is now pregnant.
News of the MCA’s hospitalization came as a shock for many who view the young Munge as a promising leader due to his articulation of matters.
Munge came to the lime light during the run up to the last general elections, when just as a teenager, he trounced over many veteran politicians in Eldama Ravine to capture the seat.
The young man attracted even the attention of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto during a Jubilee campaign rally in Eldama Ravine when they invited him to address the crowd, a privilege that was denied many other aspirants.
Nyanza Jubilee leaders vow to stay in hotel till President Uhuru Kenyatta comes
Nyanza Jubilee leaders vow to stay in hotel till President Uhuru Kenyatta comes
http://bitly.com/1uTnB1I
http://bitly.com/1uTnB1I
Washington school shooter Jaylen Fryberg's personal struggles revealed on social media
Tweet: ‘I hate that I can't live without you’
Students comfort each other following a shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Washington. (AP/Ted S. Warren) …
Social media posts penned by the shooter in Friday’s rampage at a Washington State high school portray a head-over-heels teenager who grew more and more tormented when the relationship fell apart.
“I can't believe I just witnessed a shooting,” Austin Joyner, a student at the school, said on Twitter. “Kid came into the cafeteria and walked over to a table and pulled out the gun and shot 4-6 shots at students sitting down.”
The Seattle Times reported that several students told them that Fryberg, a freshman, was responsible. Kobe Baumann, 14, told the paper that he was with Fryberg in English class shortly before the shooting, and that he appeared to be kind of nervous.
“He sits right up in the front,” Baumann said. “He got called on, but he just kept his head down and didn’t really say anything.”
Posts to Fryberg’s social media accounts convey his passion for sports, music, hunting, Native American interests and family activities.
The teen's family is well known among the area's Tulalip Indian tribe. Tribe Chairman Herman Williams Sr. said his community is reeling from the tragedy and will be trying to cope for many days ahead.
“Sadly, we are now experiencing what has become a national trend, which we, as a society, must address,” Williams said in a written statement.
Many of Fryberg's social posts in the last year are pictures of him with the same girl, often commenting about his crush.
“Sadly, we are now experiencing what has become a national trend, which we, as a society, must address,” Williams said in a written statement.
Many of Fryberg's social posts in the last year are pictures of him with the same girl, often commenting about his crush.
“I love you baby girl,” Fryberg wrote when he posted their picture on his Instagram account months ago. “I promise to love you for the rest of my life.”
He was clearly still smitten at the beginning of the summer, but somewhere along the way his messages took a sour turn.
Jarron Webb, 15, confirmed to the Seattle Times that the shooter was angry at a girl who would not date him.
Some of Fryberg's tweets over the last few months appear to be threatening, but it is unknown who he may have been targeting.
He sent his final tweet on Thursday.
Social media was also the home for sadness and shock in the hours after the shooting.
“Over a girl he was heartbroken and didn't know what to do,” tweeted a 16-year-old who identified herself as a cousin of the shooter. “Jaylen wasn't a bad kid he just made a mistake.”
Jason Sickles is a reporter for Yahoo. Follow him on Twitter (@jasonsickles).
