Let us stop this sabre-rattling and address urgent problems

Just when it looks as if there is light at the end of a dark tunnel, our tunnel-vision leaders conspire to take us back down the dark abyss.

The threat of violence and confrontation hangs over Madaraka Day on Wednesday as the leaders unto darkness and death on both sides of the political divide flex their muscles for yet another needless confrontation.

Yet just the other day, it seemed we might be making progress when Mr Raila Odinga’s opposition Cord coalition suspended its weekly protests against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission in order to give dialogue a chance.

President Uhuru Kenyatta reciprocated, affirming that he was more than ready for such engagement.

Then the announcement of Cord’s planned rally at Uhuru Park on Wednesday, on the novel occasion when the President presides over a national day fete outside the capital city.

That was like waving the red flag at an angry bull. Jubilee supporters raised a mighty uproar, with the illiterate argument that such a rally on Madaraka would be illegal or provocative.

The police, in their usual Jubilee sycophancy, purported to ban the rally on the spurious grounds that it would be a threat to law and order, and that the venue had already been booked for a prayer crusade.

SOUNDS LESS EDUCATED

Then there was Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery. The belligerent Cabinet minister sounds even less educated than the usual rabble of MPs when he threatens to unleash violence and have the Cord leaders arrested on the legally dubious grounds that Mr Odinga was trying to usurp functions that are the preserve of the Head of State.

Such ossified thinking, and attendant threats, one may ignore when coming from two-bit MPs. However, the office of the Interior Cabinet secretary, which is responsible for national security, calls for much more educated and responsible responses to emerging issues.

Nyayo-era tactics of concocting coup plots as an excuse to unleash terror on political foes belong to the dustbin of history.

There is absolutely no legal or constitutional reason Cord or any other entity cannot hold its own event on a national day.

Cord is as entitled to its political rally on Madaraka Day just as much as Evangelist Dr (where do they get these titles?) Lucy Ngunjiri is entitled to her prayer crusade.

And all others are entitled to their wedding ceremonies, birthday parties, nyama choma orgies, football matches, and reggae festivals.

No activity on Madaraka Day, Jamhuri Day, or Shujaa Day should be seen as “parallel” or “rival” to the festivities presided over by the Head of State.

PARANOID REACTION

Now, if the only confusion is over who booked Uhuru Park first, that should be easy to resolve. But the real issue is not just about the rights to the venue, but Jubilee’s paranoid reaction to anything it imagines might amount to Mr Odinga stealing the thunder from President Kenyatta.

If indeed Cord booked Uhuru Park first, they should have their day, hoping they behave themselves and keep at bay muggers, looters, stone-throwers, and other thugs that habitually grace their functions.

But if the good evangelist did secure the venue first, it should be no big deal for Mr Odinga to move his gathering to City Stadium, Kamukunji grounds, or any other venue. He could even join the official Nairobi County Jamhuri Day event at Nyayo stadium.

Such a concession would deflate the Jubilee hordes and serve to assuage fears that Cord is only out to cause mayhem.

It is the same kind of spirit that could be useful to unlocking the impasse. Cord gave President Kenyatta an ultimatum to convene talks or it would resume the weekly Monday protests. That was uncalled for, as the President will hardly give in to threats and intimidation.

In any case, it is not the job of the President to convene talks as that role is best left to a neutral arbiter.

Churches, civil society, and the business community are already reaching out to all groups to plead for peace and dialogue. They are best placed to convene the national round table urgently required to address pressing issues ahead of the 2017 elections.

This would be one legitimate way of dealing with the patently obstructionist nonsense that only within the narrow confines of Parliament can the national crisis be discussed.

[email protected]. @MachariaGaitho on Twitter