June 17, 2014

Summary

Angry reactions and rising tension are our present response to the Mpeketoni terrorist attack where some 56 people were killed.

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Angry reactions and rising tension in response to Mpeketoni terrorist attack

Angry reactions and rising tension in response to Mpeketoni terrorist attack

The country has been coming to terms with the shocking terror attack in Lamu that has left behind 56 dead so far and just as saddening is the hatred that has been spreading on social media for the better part of the last 24 hours following the attack.

KURIA – “PLACE ODINGA UNDER HOUSE ARREST”

TNA strategist, Moses Kuria, who is also vying for the Gatundu South Parliamentary seat in the upcoming by-election, seems to have ignited the war after he carelessly uttered in his tweeter handle that CORD leader Raila Odinga perpetrated the Lamu, Mpeketoni attack.

Moses Kuria @HonMosesKuria 

‘The terrorist attack in Mpeketoni and the burning of a hotel is enough reason to place Raila Odinga under #Housearrest #Sabasabacell#1’

And again later:

‘If the Govt is unwilling to arrest these people, we should join hands, go to their homes and conduct Citizen Arrest.’

LUMUMBA – “FROG INTIMIDATING A COW”

The social media has since then erupted to an ugly scene with Kenyans making tribal and political affiliated attacks against each other.

Dr Patrick Lumumba criticized Moses Kuria’s utterances by tweeting;

“I checked tweets from Hon. Moses Kuria and am befuddled at his display of Shallowness and fatuousness. It’s like a frog intimidating a cow”.

DR MUTUA ON THE RECEIVING END

Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua, on the other end, received a bashing from CORD supporters over the weekend  after he posted on his Facebook page that he does not have time for political rallies because he is busy working for his people. The supporters called Mutua a traitor for distancing himself from his political party.

“My people of Machakos want roads, water, and food. They do not wish to see me in political rallies while they wallow in poverty”, Mutua wrote, adding that: “The role of politics is to direct development. Political wrangling and raising temperatures is going to make Kenyans poorer”.

OLE LENKU DRAWS A LINE AND URGES CALM?

The Interior Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku’s position seemed to change somewhat as the news of the attack in Lamu spread.

Addressing the media in Nairobi he was quoted as saying: “Recently, I issued a caution that there is a line beyond which nobody should cross. This red line has now been crossed. The politicians are hereby warned to desist from inciting the public and those engaging in incitement will be firmly dealt with by the law”.

Asked whether he was referring to Raila Odinga, Lenku responded, “His political activities are in the public domain”.

However, Lenku was also quoted as ‘emerging from a security meeting’ to say that it was “bandits” who had crossed the “red line”.

Raila Odinga responded by stating: “Our timetable was planned a long time ago and what do I have to do with Al-Shabaab who said they were behind the attack.”

Later Lenku warned Kenyans against pointing any accusatory fingers and urged them to be calm as they wait for police investigations.

“Let us remain calm and stop speculating on whether the attacks are political or not and wait for the official investigation in order to establish the facts”, he said.

Our politicians would be advised to find out the facts and then engage their brains before opening their mouths, says the Kenya Forum.

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