Muthama’s outburst is a big disgrace

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy's (Cord) co-chairman Johnson Muthama addresses journalists at his Red Hill office in Nairobi on July 10, 2015. While Mr Muthama is not new to objectionable verbal detours, this time round he overstepped the bounds and wandered into caveman territory. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • However, his disgraceful utterances during Coalition for Reforms and Democracy's (Cord) so-called solidarity-with-striking-teachers’ rally at Uhuru Park last week created the portrait of an ignoble and crass creature bereft of any scruples.
  • While Mr Muthama is not new to objectionable verbal detours, this time round he overstepped the bounds and wandered into caveman territory.

Machakos Senator Johnson Nduya Muthama is not anyone’s idea of a village wag.

However, his disgraceful utterances during Coalition for Reforms and Democracy's (Cord) so-called solidarity-with-striking-teachers’ rally at Uhuru Park last week created the portrait of an ignoble and crass creature bereft of any scruples.

Reflecting on the invective Mr Muthama directed at the Head of State, the image of a troglodyte, in fact, a philistine caught in a time warp, readily comes to mind. And what a disgrace to those he purports to represent!

THE HUNTED

Nduya in Mr Muthama’s mother tongue means hunter. However, his unbridled tongue has essentially relegated him to the corner of the hunted.

Mr Muthama is by any standards an elder. Indeed, in the true African sense, eldership always presupposes leadership. A leader should endeavour to be an exemplar of what is noble and upright. On this score, Mr Muthama fails hopelessly.

Here is why I think his conduct should be called by its real name.   

One, his heedless words have confirmed that Mr Muthama is unworthy of national leadership. And he cannot invoke culture to excuse his uncouth style and manner of speech.

In my view, Mr Muthama lacks the basic perspective and moral apparatus to become a decent leader. His wealth is what he sells as leadership. Yet possessions alone should not count for much in the character of a true leader.

The senator should know that a clown is just another name for comedian and that even in clowning, choice of words and decency of speech can be a major turn-off. 

RESPECT PRESIDENCY
Two, Mr Muthama is a father, husband, and grandfather. Few grandfathers with the kind of visibility the senator enjoys would comfortably indulge in lewd references at public forums.

Chapter Six of the Constitution demands moral probity of leaders. I am reminded of the antics of Azdak, Bertolt Brecht’s itinerant village “judge” who would freely fart in public “to show an independent spirit”.

Mr Muthama should see the sense in minding his language, given his position in politics and his family.

Three, and more critically, Mr Muthama should bear in mind that in the pursuit of the presidency, he and his Cord cohorts should, as a matter of common decency, project the office of the Head of State as a serious point of reference for national unity, dissenting personal sentiments notwithstanding.

OVERSTEPPED THE BOUNDS
This is particularly paramount given that although the occupancy of the presidency changes from time to time, its significance and solemnity must be preserved at all times.

It is, therefore, an act of reckless myopia and mindlessness to malign the presidency. Indeed, it is defeatist to soil the very seat one strives to occupy.

Moreover, to slur the name and person of a senior State officer simply because that person happens to be female, competent, smart, diligent, and beautiful is not the smartest thing for a grown man to do.

While Mr Muthama is not new to objectionable verbal detours, this time round he overstepped the bounds and wandered into caveman territory.