Oppositions push poised to transform coastal politics

It was the American historian, Howard Zinn (1922-2010), who described dissent as the “the highest form of patriotism”.

But, as the French and Russian revolutions reveal, dissenters are easy targets of bigotry and draconian actions – often sanitised as “purge” such as the “Great Purge” or campaign of political repression in the former Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1934 to 1940.

The guillotine of the French Revolution may no longer be in use, but political repression of dissenters has morphed into different forms and shades – and is no longer a preserve of states, but is also liberally used by Opposition parties.

Kenya is facing a new kind of war on dissent. In the past, a crackdown on dissenters was orchestrated by the Jomo Kenyatta and his successor Daniel Moi states. However, the latest purge of dissenters is executed by the Opposition.

In the last two months, the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) has worked itself up into a “revolutionary frenzy” based first on a push for dialogue with the ruling Jubilee Government and, after this failed, a push for a referendum. Cord’s “referendum revolution” carries eerie echoes of the zeal and excesses of past revolutions.

It has stoked a winter of dissent within the ranks of the Opposition, splitting it through the middle. Two ideological camps have emerged: Militant MPs pushing for the referendum and those who have declared that they will work with the Government to deliver on the development agenda.

Cord supremacists in the former ideological camp have instituted a purge to protect the Opposition turf against spirited depredation by the rival Jubilee Alliance. The purge is Cord’s tactic to keep its followers on an even ideological keel to realise its referendum agendum.

“Going into the referendum, Cord deems it desirable to reorganise and re-energise its leadership,” declared Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi.

Opposition pundits are arguing that in these revolutionary times, it is better to work with a few loyal MPs than a multitude who are co-operating with the rival coalition.

To herd in its MPs, Cord is drawing a blinkered ideological line between itself and Jubilee. “The ideological and philosophical divide between Cord and Jubilee is too clear,” avers Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi. “Whereas Cord stands for social democracy and equitable sharing of national wealth, Jubilee advocates raw capitalism and primitive accumulation of wealth that pushes a large segment of the population to the economic periphery,” he says.

Cord’s threat is paying off. On July 23, a Cord parliamentary group meeting attended by some 80 legislators adopted a resolution for a national referendum. Cord has since moved against its rebels with the heavy stick, focusing the purge on areas of dissent in Ukambani, Coast and Kisii. The purge has started with the Minority Whip Gideon Mung’aro, viewed by Cord’s supremacists as the lead rebel.

Moved against rebels
On July 24, the Minority Leader in the National Assembly Francis Nyenze wrote to Speaker Justin Muturi to report a decision by an Opposition parliamentary group meeting that had axed its Whip.

He was replaced with a more loyal politician, Thomas Mwadeghu. In line with Standing Order 171 (3), Nyenze wrote, “Gideon Mung’aro will also cease to be a member of the House Business Committee”. Cord has also written to Mung’aro, asking him to hand over all records to Mwadeghu.

Cord militants are celebrating the axing of Mung’aro as a warning shot against other dissenters within the Opposition ranks. They are warning that this is just a tip of the iceberg. “This purge has just begun and there are many more casualties on the way,” said Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar.

“I am issuing a notice to those errant members that we are coming for you and particularly some MPs from the Coast who we know have been warming up to Jubilee,” warned Suna East MP Junet Mohammed.

Cord’s supremacists are promising further stern disciplinary action against the rebels, including losing their seats in Parliament based on a cock-eyed reading of the new Constitution. Section (5) of the Parties Act states that: “A person who, while being a member of a political party… promotes the ideology, interests or policies of another political party, is deemed to have resigned.”

The threat is paying off. Key hitherto anti-referendum leaders like the Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero have begun to soften their stance, endorsing the referendum process.

The fallout in Cord started last month when Deputy President William Ruto made a high-profile visit to Kwale and Kilifi counties followed by another by President Kenyatta to Taita-Taveta.

On July 14, the evening that Raila took the referendum push to Mombasa, he was deeply angered by some ODM MPs from the Coast who snubbed an Iftar (dinner to break the Muslim fast during Ramadhan), organised by Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho, which he attended.

The last straw came on July 23 when the entire leadership of Kwale County visited President Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi.

Cord’s purge is raising serious questions about its internal democracy. “Natural justice dictates that Mung’aro be given fair hearing,” Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi protested. Mung’aro’s supporters have threatened to quit Cord if he is not reinstated.

However, the expression of faith in Mung’aro by the Coastal MPs is likely to bolster his status as a political kingpin in the region. Potentially, the rebellion of Kilifi and Kwale leadership heralds the return of the era when Mijikenda leaders Ronald Ngala (Kilifi) and Robert Matano (Kwale) ruled the wave in coastal politics.

But, for now, the future of Cord in Coast politics, where it is riding the tidal wave of radicalisation of Muslim youth and land-related grievances, is certain – its purge is no more than a well calculated risk.

Professor Peter Kagwanja is the Chief Executive of the Africa Policy Institute