The political storm triggered by the growing number of Kenyans being abducted erupted in Western on Friday, with government critics telling President William Ruto to his face to contain the menace.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya sparked the firestorm when he openly told off those downplaying the abduction claims, saying leaders must accept criticism.
The abduction of government critics, mainly vocal youths on social media, has threatened to reignite the Gen Z protests that almost pushed the government to its knees last year.
However, Natembeya’s condemnation of the enforced disappearances during the burial of the mother of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, rubbed Ruto’s men the wrong way, who then went hammer and tongs at the governor.
Natembeya, a former regional commissioner for Rift Valley, is among opposition leaders critical of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
While responding to Cotu boss Francis Atwoli who had earlier dismissed rising abductions cases as stage-managed by people out to discredit the government, the governor told Ruto criticism should not be a reason for abduction.
“I say this with a very heavy heart. It is unfortunate for a leader to say that the people are abducting themselves. It is unfortunate. It is not for these hallowed grounds,” Natembeya said.
“People should not be killed or abducted because of the insults on social media. Every time I open my social media pages, out of ten messages eight are insults.”
A fierce exchange ensued pitting the county boss against the Ruto team led by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah.
The angry Kikuyu MP linked Natembeya to the ongoing abductions.
“Your politics of dividing Kenyans on ethnic lines and incitement – let me tell you Natembeya - will not take you anywhere. The person who used to be your leader in ethnic politics is the former Deputy President, who is the mastermind of abductions and we know your game,” Ichung’wah said.
“Don’t think you can intimidate us. When people were being dumped in River Yala, you were the regional commissioner in charge of abductions and murdering Kenyans. Shame on you, governor.
“Respect Speaker Wetang’ula. I have seen you several times at funerals abusing the Speaker. You do not have the shame to even stand here and claim, ‘Oh, I have friends in this family.’ Respect people and we will respect you back.”
Natembeya and Wetang’ula have been having constant run-ins, largely linked to political supremacy over the region.
As the leaders tore into each other, President William Ruto and other dignitaries watched pensively from their seats.
In his address, the President asked for respect for the rule of law, absolving his administration of claims of abductions and extrajudicial killings.
He said he would not sit back and watch the country sink back into cases of extrajudicial killings where bodies would be found dumped in rivers Yala and Tana.
“That will not happen under my administration,” he said.
Several people, especially youths critical of the Kenya Kwanza government, have in the recent days been whisked away by kidnappers believed to be law enforcement officers. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
On Monday, the High Court ordered immediate release of six individuals who were reportedly abducted following an unprecedented social media mock campaign against Ruto.
The six are Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, Billy Mwangi, Gideon Kibet, Rony Kiplangat and Steve Kavingo.
Justice Bahati Mwamunye also directed Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to produce the six in court on Tuesday.
Leaders attending the funeral in Bungoma called on Kenyans to respect the rule of law, taking offence at a section of youths abusing social media spaces to hurl insults and mock leaders.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, while admitting it is the opposition’s role to criticise the government, maintained the same should be done based on facts.
“The work of opposition is to criticise. When I was in the opposition I could see a hundred proposals and out of a hundred, only five are bad and 95 are good. It is not my business to say the good 95. That is the work of the government. I concentrate on the bad five. The only thing I want to plead with those who are criticising is, let us be factual,” Mbadi said.
As the high-octane politics played out, the minority party declared it will not be used by inciters to remove Ruto from power before his constitutional term limit.
Minority Leader in the National Assembly Junet Mohammed asked leaders and Kenyans at large to tone down political rhetoric and wait for 2027.
Junet said Kenya is a constitutional democracy that goes to election every five years.
“In a constitutional democracy, everybody gets the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidates. In the last election, we as the minority side had our candidate. The majority side also had their candidate,” he stated.
It was wrong for some politicians to plot to remove their leader.
“What has surprised me is that two years after the elections, people who made a conscious decision to elect a candidate for five good years have been coming to me asking that I help them remove that person from office. I cannot do that job for now. We will wait for another election.
“Some come to me with strange stories. Stories about Zakayo the tax collector and Kasongo. Let us wait for 2027.”
He reiterated that even those on the majority side should wait for 2027.
“If you voted for this government and got tired early, others are still strong. We are not ready to do such work. Find other people to do it.” Junet maintained that the minority side is up to the task in the House.
“We as the minority in the National Assembly know our work. We are supposed to fight for the rights of the people through constitutional means,” he said.
“This broad-based government will help Kenyans and that is where we are.”
The burial was attended by among others Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, CSs Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), Hassan Joho (Mining) and a host of elected leaders.
Mama Nanyama, born on March 9, 1930, into the Babuya clan from Sirare village, died on Friday, December 20, after a long illness.
