WHEN JOHO DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP AND FORGOT HE WAS AN ASPIRANT

Burning tyres smoke along the King'orani road as riot police engaged Muslim youths in running battles after an Islamic cleric was shot dead by unknown people at Bamburi along the Mombasa-Malindi road. Photo by Gideon Maundu. Source www.nation.co.ke

The death of controversial cleric Sheikh Aboud Rogo Mohamed under an assassin’s hail of bullet was enough to turn Mombasa into hell’s kitchen. Sheikh Rogo a controversial figure in life was followed by controversy in death and hours after his death his followers made sure that Mombasa burnt, death rent the air and property worth millions was destroyed. When the guns fell silent four people among them three police officers lay dead with another bigger number injured.

It is still not clear whether the chaos that rocked the town and mainly targeted churches in Mvita and Kisauni had an unidentified hand as was claimed by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Further, no one can tell whether the chaos were spontaneous and meant to show discontent in the way the Sheikh referred by some online commentators as a “Shahid” was felled.

From the outset no one has the right to take away the life of another regardless of how offended they may be by his teachings. Further still no one has the right to attack, kill and maim other people for the reason that they are protesting. There are better ways to express that dissatisfaction although during a crisis such mechanisms are likely to be thrown to the dogs.

One of the challenges that came with the chaos was that the police could not quell the chaos using “excessive force” as the constitution outlaws that. The writers of the constitution had in mind that citizens would only demonstrate to express genuine concerns. As such protestors had a right to go ahead and demonstrate and at the same time be protected by the law keepers. They never envisaged a situation where criminals would take over a town and for a time run it as police like headless chicken ran helter skelter with the only thing to show for their authority being their boots guns and uniform.

The clause again brings to the fore the need for leadership in times of crisis. In the Mombasa chaos, there was an opportunity for leaders to demonstrate what mettle they are made of and where they stand in the issues.  Many of them spoke but I am sure theirs was only to add to the number of very many people who said something some of it half heartedly.

I am impressed by the way the MP for Kisauni and the Assistant for Transport Ali Hassan Joho responded to the crisis. He came out openly and condemned the attacks. He also went on a door to door campaign in the affected areas of Kisauni to beseech the youth to cease from further chaos. He also came out to consistently pin point the weak link in the chaos by asking parents why they would let their children participate in chaos and attack people who had nothing to do with the killing of Rogo.

Joho did not do the usual politics and I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that at that time he forgot that he was an aspirant for Mombasa governorship position and his only concern was to see peace restored in the area. He had an appeal to the youth because as their leader he decided to lead from the front and not the usual organized news approach of press conferences.

That said, the MP and others stakeholders have a lot to do with the issue at hand. First, the speed at which the killing of Rogo changed to become an attack on churches means there is some major underlying issue that needs to be addressed. In my own opinion I do not think it is an issue that has to do with the clerics both Muslim and Christian but there could be an extremist hand that has planted enough seeds of discord.

I am also convinced that Government has a big job cut out for it and especially in improving its image and reputation among the local people.    I guess the only thing that local people know about government is the issuing of orders, arresting people and other harassment issues. It is time that “Sirikali” took to an image building campaign and I can only hope that the new county government that Joho and others hopes to lead will approach issues with the seriousness it deserves so that local youth can feel they are part and parcel of Kenyan nation.

Ends…..