Deputy President William Ruto is said to be the cause of the unnecessary curfew extensions, imposed under the guise of the Coronavirus pandemic which has ravaged several parts of the world. As Kenyans grow increasingly tired from the joblessness and movement restrictions, reports estimate that a total of 1 million people may have lost their jobs or incomes as a result of the shut-downs.
Initially welcomed as a measure to combat the spread of Covid-19, but it is slowly emerging as a means for President Uhuru Kenyatta to consolidate his power, by usurping Constitutional offices beginning with the Deputy President’s, where a recent Executive Order from Statehouse, put him at cross-paths with Chief Justice David Maraga, who issued a response claiming that Uhuru has no power to mutilate the constitution.
In extending the curfew tomorrow, President Uhuru Kenyatta hopes to curtail the movements of Deputy President William Ruto’s hardliners, who are claiming victimisation and political persecution for their loyalty to the DP. Today, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria was barred from attending the funeral of musician Joseph Wayuni in his constituency.
As that happens, supporters of the other wing of Jubilee have hit the ground running, hosting numerous meetings beginning with the highly publicized Luhya leaders’ forum, held at COTU Secretary Francis Atwoli’s residence in Kajiado County. There have also been numerous politicking meetings at Statehouse and elsewhere, with Kenyans wondering if there are two different sets of rules being applied. Today, Council of Governors Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya and CS Eugene Wamalwa were pelted with stones upon arrival at the Kakamega Airstrip earlier today, signalling the growing restlessness and impatience of the people.
Also today, church leaders held a consultative meeting with Interior CS’s Fred Matiangi and his Health counterpart Mutahi Kagwe, who gave them an assurance that the president will heed to their cries.
According to insiders, the plan is to allow churches to reopen but adhering to strict social-distancing guidelines, but maintain the curfew on movement plus continued shut-downs on entertainment spots, where patrons have accused police of extortion and racketeering under the guise of enforcing curfew guidelines. Churches will also be monitored from hosting “guests” where William Ruto has used the altar to entrench his agenda.
Activists have taken to Twitter questioning why Kenyans are busy commiserating with Americans under the Black Lives Matter movement while ignoring the continued extrajudicial killings of Kenyans during the curfew by police. So far, police brutality in Kenya has cost more lives than the Corona Virus, fuelling anger and rage, especially in the areas of Mathare where a homeless person was recently murdered by the police.
It is still unclear how Kenyans will react tomorrow when Uhuru extends the curfew by another two weeks, but residents are bracing themselves for riots from a restless population, who are being charged by the ongoing protests in USA where surprisingly Kenyans have taken a lead role in mobilising and organizing.
