Security is Paramount on August 27

Bloodshed is the least thing to usher in a successful rebirth of any nation. Though many African countries have experienced blood spilling occasioned by efforts from revolutionary armies to set them free from dictators, it has often been the last resort.

Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Guinea are few examples of states where blood was shed to rescue them from hands of authoritarian rulers.
Kenya, widely considered a peaceful country before 2007 post-election violence, has experienced wavy kind of stability, from peaceful handovers (in 1978 and 2003) and rocky elections (1992 and 2007). Despite the last war, the country has picked up its pieces and indeed three years after the dreadful episode, it’s regaining its place among the stable nations in Africa.

Having done that, it’s essential to firm the stability by ensuring a peaceful constitutional change on Friday, August 27. The day is hugely significant as it welcomes in a new Kenya, a nation to be pegged on a different set of laws, a country to be democratically ruled, and a state to be led by people from the people.
Historicity of the event, though very important to all Kenyans but none, should not overshadow security for all. Those planning to attend ought to be assured of their safety.

Uhuru Park is an open ground and everyone is able to get in without passing through any security surveillance unlike in other grounds such as Nyayo Stadium or so where gates could be easily manned. The easy accessibility to the Park could be a fountain of trouble unless it’s policed all over and a single entrance opened. If not other mechanisms towards safety ought to be put in place to avert bloodshed which might taint the historic day. It is vital to do this in view of what happened few months ago when mysterious grenades exploded during a meeting organised by Church leaders to front their No messages on the proposed constitution.

Such esoteric happenings should not be repeated on Kenyan soil, not at least during momentous celebrations, to be attended by thousands of Kenyans and foreigners, to mark incoming of a new constitution. It’s therefore incumbent on those in power and indeed those in charge of internal security to put in place mechanisms towards eschewing all sorts of activities that may cause mayhem on the red-letter day.

Just By The Way...

*For those people who are intellectually less on what’s happening on 27th August, let me try to elaborate: During this day, billed historic by both the media and Yes politicians, the President, hope you know who he is, will publicly sign the ratified constitution into the supreme law of the land. He will do this at Uhuru Park accompanied by Right Honourable Prime Minister Raila Odinga, among other government dignitaries.

Quotes of the day
“Politics is war without bloodshed, while war is politics with bloodshed”-Mao Tse Tung

“Blood is a cleansing and sanctifying thing, and the nation that regards it as the final horror has lost its manhood... there are many things more horrible than bloodshed, and slavery is one of them”-Padraic Pearse