Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has told Mining and Blue
Economy CS Hassan Joho to stop threatening Kenyans who’ve taken to criticising
the government on social media.
For two days in a row while accompanying President William
Ruto on his development tour of Taita Taveta county, Joho lashed out at Kenyans
criticizing government online, saying a country cannot be built on the internet.
The CS told the trolls to cease and desist, failing which he
would come for them.
Speaking on Citizen Radio on Wednesday, Sifuna told Joho to
be tolerant to divergent views in the spirit of democracy and address those opposed
to government policies with decorum.
“This government doesn’t know how to talk to citizens.
Today’s citizen is not one you threaten. We will summon Joho to explain why he
is threatening Kenyans that he will come for them,” Sifuna said.
The legislator said the government should brace for a more unsavoury appraisal of its performance because increased civic sensitisation
amongst Kenyans amplified by the Gen Z-led protests has emboldened the masses
to speak without fear of intimidation.
Sifuna told CS Joho to understand that he’s no longer a
politician and should be measured in his public utterances and desist from engaging
the public in a ragtag style.
“Remarks made by a CS are very different from those made by
a politician. He needs to be reminded he’s no longer Mombasa governor or ODM
deputy party leader…he’s a CS and a CS is accountable.
“He’s lucky we’re going on recess this week until February
(but) he should not think we will forget; we will summon him to explain what he
means when he says he will come for those Kenyans criticising government. In
what capacity will he do that?”
Sifuna said freedom of expression is protected by the Bill
of Rights and encouraged Kenyans to continue speaking their mind and refuse to
be intimidated.
He said Kenyans took their power back during the occupy Parliament
protests “because you used to live like you didn’t know that you’re more
powerful than these people”.
“Continue shining the spotlight on us and don’t be
threatened by anyone, speak up because this is how we will build our country
for future generations,” he said.
"Personally, I’m not perfect... I have been receiving emails on
how people want me to vote on Bills and I listen. Why would you threaten a
19-year-old? These are the people we need to sit with and borrow ideas on how
to develop our country. You (Joho) have already contributed to the progress of
the country, stop threatening people."
Sifuna also took issue with President William Ruto’s description
of those opposed to government policies as possessed with an evil spirit of
opposition.
“Mimi ndio hiyo pepo ya kupinga (I’m that evil spirit of
opposition),” Sifuna said.
But we are not opposing just for the sake of it, we are
opposing because the law is not being followed and your statements, Mr President,
are not in sync with the actions of your government,” he added.
Ruto on November 21 ordered the ministries of Transport and
Energy to cancel the JKIA and Ketraco deals with Indian conglomerate Adani
Group following mounting public uproar and what he termed "new information
provided by our investigative agencies and partner nations.”.
The new information was in light of the indictment of
billionaire Gautam Adani, the firm’s chairperson, by US prosecutors over
alleged bribery and fraud.
Kenyans had for months voiced disapproval with the government's instance to engage with Adani in the aviation and energy sector deals through a
Privately Initiated Partnership (PIP).
On Tuesday, while speaking in Taita Taveta, Ruto said there has been a lot of opposition against government projects.
"What gain do you get when you stop the building of an
airport in your country? You have no clue how it's going to be built; wale
wanapinga, ata hawajawahi kanyaga airport, unapinga tu," Ruto said.
"This spirit of opposing everything, tuombee nchi yetu.
Wale ambao wanapinga kwa mitandao, tunawambia shetani ashindwe," he added.
Sifuna told the President if the state of affairs in the
country remains constant, nothing will stop Kenyans from voicing their
disapproval.
"For as long as we have breath, we will continue speaking. When something is bad, we will say it is bad; if it’s good, we will say it’s good."
