State can’t beat citizens into submission

One of my favourite New Testament stories is found in Chapter 5 of Acts of the Apostles.

The apostles had been incarcerated, tortured, deprived of food and sleep but still persisted in preaching about the resurrected Jesus. The authorities tried every trick in the book but could not intimidate them into silence.

Eventually, one wise Pharisee, a doctor of law by the name of Gamaliel, addressed the Sanhedrin after removing the apostles from the Chamber. He told them: “Be careful how you deal with these people”.

His proposal was to leave them alone and let them go because if the movement was of human origin it will quickly disappear like those of other itinerant preachers.

However, if it comes from God they will not only be unable to destroy it but they might end up fighting against God.

This would have been a suitable reading for reflection on Inauguration Day to compliment the Lord’s Prayer that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy shared in their celebration.

FORCE

The Jubilee administration could do with the prudence of Gamaliel. For the last four months, it has used force, threats and killings to intimidate the Opposition and to suppress its objections to the two presidential ballots.

Mr Kenyatta has commended the police for their ‘professional behaviour’ despite the killings, beatings and disgraceful disruption of Mr Raila Odinga’s homecoming. The advice of Gamaliel would have been to leave them alone and let them proceed because the more you harass and intimidate the more popular will become their cause.

This is not to suggest that the Nasa strategy is of divine origin. Rather, using force to quell dissent indicates that Jubilee is unsure about its own popularity and legitimacy.

Moreover, it suggests that the Opposition has genuine grievances and you are not willing to address them.

INTIMIDATION

This time around, it would appear then that Jubilee intends to force and intimidate all voices of dissent into submission.

This was further demonstrated in the inhumane treatment meted out on Dr David Ndii last weekend. It most likely will not end there either judging by the initial reaction to Raila Odinga’s scheme to have himself sworn in as the alternative President.

Besides, the view that talks about secession are treasonable and an incitement to violence are reactionary and self-defeating. Such debates are taking place in an open space all over the world.

SECURE

If the unity of the republic is secure, why panic about dissenters who most likely want to use this as leverage at the discussion table if and when dialogue takes place.

If whole segments of society feel marginalised and excluded from the affairs of the country, then you cannot beat them into pretending that all is well. Secession calls are an expression of alienation and discrimination. They may be only at a very embryonic stage, but they most certainly need to be listened to and addressed. The more you suppress them, the louder will be the demands.

Kenya has changed considerably since the Moi era so applying tactics of repression from the Nyayo archives will not work.

Put another way, you can no longer beat 45 million citizens into submission. You have to listen to them with respect and humility.

 Fr Dolan is a Catholic priest based in Mombasa. [email protected] @GabrielDolan1