Our security does its job for you if you're important enough

What you need to know:

  • You see, the President has an armoured car and multiple bodyguards. The average Kenyan doesn't.
  • The average Kenyan still has to board buses which could be bombed and go to malls or matatu stops armed with the knowledge that they could be shot at and their lives are disposable.
  • This is a sign that we are moving forward that we will no longer sit about and wait to be told to accept and move on.

In an unfortunate turn of events, selfies of President Uhuru Kenyatta in Abu Dhabi came to light after the bus attack in Mandera.

28 people were shot point-blank as the President was in Abu Dhabi, before British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton claimed his second world championship trophy.

The President was apparently in Dubai on official business.

Deputy President William Ruto had to call an emergency security meeting on Saturday night concerning the incident after meeting the plane carrying the bodies  of the deceased at the airport.

Kieni MP Kanini Kega has threatened to move a motion to remove Inspector-General David Kimaiyo from office. I completely agree.

It does look bad for President Kenyatta at the moment.

It is not undoubtedly clear what he was doing in Dubai other than "official business", none of which has been accompanied by the usual overflow of pictures and Facebook statements from his well-oiled PR machine.

KIMAIYO MUST GO

But he can get away with it for the moment; the heat is really on Mr Kimaiyo. Kenya has had one too many attacks since this man came into office.

Clearly, the Inspector-General is not succeeding. 

It is on record that Kenyan security agencies ignored warnings about the Westgate attack and Mpeketoni.

After Westgate, nothing should have been ignored again, ever. And now the tragedy at Mandera has happened. Why is Mr Kimaiyo still in office? Why are we still accepting his incompetence?

OCCUPY HARAMBEE AVENUE

The answer is, we are not. The protest for #OccupyHarambeeAvenue happened Tuesday.

People are fed up with the ridiculous security in our country.

You see, the President has an armoured car and multiple bodyguards. The average Kenyan doesn't.

The average Kenyan still has to board buses that could be bombed and go to malls or matatu stops armed with the knowledge that they could be shot at and their lives are disposable.

Why are they disposable? Because no one seems to care.

You can be sitting anywhere in Kenya now and you will be at risk whether from terrorists, or thugs, or the cops liaising with your watchman to rob you.

What is the answer to this glaring security problem?

After Mpeketoni, Lamu is on curfew. Putting a curfew on Lamu is killing Lamu’s economy slowly but surely. This is not the solution to insecurity.

The solution is for those in charge of security to actually do their job.

ARMOURED CARS FOR ALL?

Maybe the problem is indeed that the President has an armoured car.

Our security does its job, you see, but just not for the people who don't have armoured cars.

You remember when the President’s escort car was stolen? And found in less than a week?

Our security does its job for you if you are important enough. Some Kenyans are more equal than others.

This is why, despite cameras in the CBD and a large reward offer for information, the perpetrators of sexual assault at the Embassava bus stop have not been caught, perhaps because the woman who was attacked not have an armoured car. Or bodyguards. Or importance.

MY DRESS, MY CHOICE

Kenyans, thankfully, are getting fed up with not being given their rights which we have a right to.

Last week, hundreds of women marched through town demanding their right not to be stripped (which really, should not even be cause for debate, but that is another story).

This is a sign that we are moving forward that we will no longer sit about and wait to be told to accept and move on.

This is a sign that maybe, come next election, we won’t vote in people with proven track records that are terrible, or bloody, or notably unscrupulous.

Your dress is your choice. And it is the responsibility of the government to take care of its people.

Due process should be followed such that we are not hiring people from "Top Chef" to man a security docket. Yes, I am talking about Mr Ole Lenku, who should also leave, as his hospitality skills are doing nothing for the country.

Him, the president can dismiss.

Kimaiyo and Ole Lenku should go, must go. These atrocities must stop, Mr President.

Twitter: @AbigailArunga