It is now in public domain that the Jubilee government
has lodged some 'war' against the media, the civil society and the judiciary.
It is not in public domain yet but the message is that
the Executive, through its controlled Parliament, could be warming up for some
dictatorial venture.
The media give the people that channel to voice
their dissatisfaction. When that channel is narrowed or made slippery, then the
people’s displeasure or any kind of oppression meted on them would not be
expressly known. You kill the media through threats of imprisonment and a
hanging noose emblazoned with astronomical fines.
The judiciary is where the big, the small, the tiny
and miniature seek refuge when faced with oppression. When the judicial
environment is made difficult, people would lack a place to seek solace. You
kill the judiciary by controlling appointment of judges and magistrates.
The civil society is that watchdog that calls for
attention when people’s rights are stepped on. You kill that dog and no one
will be ‘barking’ when people are oppressed and constitutional rights taken
away. You kill the civil society by controlling their only way of existing: funds.
This government seems to be lacking in leadership.
Those in government are behaving as if they are not confident about their
legitimacy in power. This government wants to hammer to the wall each and every
dissenting voice or those suspected to be critical of their inadequacy or
misdemeanours.
Parliament has so far shown that leadership is its
biggest challenge. If the two Jubilee-controlled Houses are not fighting over
who is superior then one speaker is either acting disrespectfully on the floor
and using some unpalatable words on members.
The Executive is showing its fair show of
challenges:
Much has been said about the controversial KICA
Bill; its contentious sections, lack of consensus in its development and its negative
effects on media freedom. Jubilee government has played hide and seek and
eventually passed it in the most unprecedented way. The Constitution has rested
laws making on Parliament but on this Bill, the President (Executive) was given
(albeit unconstitutionally) that mandate to make some sections of this piece of
legislation.
When you have a President and a Deputy who
contemptuously treat the media and dismissively call newspapers “meat wrappers”
then you know things are not right. The next thing you will be hearing is a call
for a referendum to be allowed to rule forever. Today it’s the media, judiciary;
tomorrow it will be an assault on the supreme law.
This week, the Jubilee-controlled National Assembly
lost a Bill on the floor for the first time. The Miscellaneous (amendments)
Bill contained several unconstitutional provisions. Both sides took issue with
the proposed law accusing the Attorney-General of trying to sneak unlawful
provisions through Parliament.
The AG is the government’s legal advisor and if he
could receive such a beating for obvious reasons, then those he advises maybe
forgiven for not having a strong legal-hand. But the President, a sign of
nation’s unity, will not be forgiven for waging war on other arms of the
government even if his advisors are not doing their job well.
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