Have we abandoned the national project?

In the past two years, we have witnessed massacres in Baragoi, Westgate, Mpeketoni, Kapedo and now Mandera, and the government still pretends there is no security crisis.

This week, there were protests in 170 American cities over the verdict to not indict Police Officer Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Meanwhile, a mere 170 demonstrators took to the streets of Nairobi on Tuesday to protest against the slaughter of 28 Kenyans in Mandera, while Uhuru Park was jam-packed the following day for the service of Senator Otieno Kajwang’, who departed this life with many pending questions over his legal and Cabinet career.

President Obama spoke twice in 24 hours about the Michael Brown ruling while President Kenyatta took five days to comment on the Mandera killings. Makes you wonder whether we have lost our sense of outrage or given up on the national project?

Have massacres become so frequent that we become unaffected and indifferent, not really upset providing our village and family are not on the list of casualties? Or has protest and outrage been devolved like everything else, to the detriment of national cohesion and unity?

Even a cursory glance at the evening news shows that the right to protest is enjoyed in every corner of the country. Kenyans demonstrate just about everywhere and about anything: MCAs, governors, pot-holed roads, randy teachers, polluting factories, exam timetables, embezzling chiefs and even drunken priests. Kenyans take to the streets with very little encouragement and soon there will not be a green branch left on the trees.

NATIONWIDE PROTESTS

But what do all these demonstrations have in common? They all concern local, village or county issues. They are matters that affect Wanjiku and citizens believe can be addressed immediately and effectively when pressure is exerted. But when was the last time that we had nationwide protests over a matter of national importance, apart from teachers and nurses who downed tools out of self-interest?

Politicians, too, rarely see the larger picture of the nation. Last Sunday morning, Mombasa politicians held a meeting to demand the reopening of four mosques. That demand had some legitimacy but Mombasa Christians worship every Sunday with armed police in attendance and with the knowledge that they could be attacked with weapons that were stored in one of those mosques. Did the politicians take cognisance of the rights and concerns of all of their constituents?

Last week, I wrote that Kenya is crying out for leaders and sick and tired of politicians. A leader is one who puts the nation before his ethnic community, party or religion. A leader is angry about every massacre and committed to the safety of every citizen. But the downside of devolution is that we have become insular, tribal and village citizens, losing the vision of a united Kenya unable to see beyond our county boundaries.

As a result we fail to demand the security we deserve and allow ourselves to be chastised for not doing enough to make the country safe.

We have a long way to go but wherever Kenya is headed it must be led by patriots who value life and liberty for every citizen.

[email protected] @GabrielDolan1