Who Raped and Killed Who?

Sometimes in the early 00’s, a Kenyan Thespian wrote a play titled ‘they will cry themselves hoarse while hiding inside a toilet.’ The play was in a local language ostensibly an attempt to avoid censure from the then powers that were.

The thespian, the late Wahome Mutahi, had had a brush with the authorities earlier when he wrote a novel, ‘three days on the cross’, which chronicled his earlier detention, at the notorious Kamiti maximum security prison, for his literary works.

His latter work was, however, significant because, for the first time Kenya appeared destined to, finally, detach itself from the grip of Mugabe-like autocratic rule of the, arguably, paranoid, Daniel Arap Moi.

The hopelessness that accompanied the majority of Kenyans was rife. Corruption, from the petty traffic cops bribery, to the gigantic, Goldenberg was blatant. Moi’s grip was too tight that even veteran opposition politicians had lined up to pay homage.

The press had coined the term ‘professor of politics’ for him probably to refer to his regal transcendence over the majority. He, actually, repeatedly won elections with only about thirty percent of the vote, thanks to the fragmented opposition.

The play about crying in the toilet was significant for a number of reasons: it, for instance, confirmed the state of impunity the community had degenerated in to. A situation of, literally, anything goes, or rather, went.

Opposition, though legally entrenched in the constitution, was an endangered species. From prominent people like Kenneth Matiba, Masinde Muliro, Charles Rubia, Jaramogi odinga, to smaller players like writers Koigi wa Wamwere and Wahome Mutahi among others. They were continuously and violently harassed.

Freedom of thought and expression was subjected to the whims of paranoid rulers for determination. It was worse than can be captured in words and scope of this article. People died mysteriously. Fear was in the air. Kenyans were a terrified lot.

The play, secondly, offered a glimpse of hope to the terrified citizens that evil would ultimately be overcame by good. Anyone who watched and understood the play was left in stitches and a renewed hope for justice.

The play details how, in the fullness of time, all the looters, killers and rapists would eventually spend lonely days inside toilets wailing and regretting their brutal actions to their fellow beings.

Many Kenyans would have hoped it happens sooner. The new administration, indeed, started off enthusiastically. There were demolitions of illegally acquired property. Goldenberg suspects were put to task through a commission of inquiry. Corrupt traffic cops were arrested by citizens. It was a sigh of relief, but short lived. It was never going to be easy.

This week, the nation was, probably for the first time, treated to a fulfilment of Wahome Mutahi’s kind of prophesy. The Nairobi Law monthly cover screamed: Jonathan Moi Raped and KilledJulie Ward. The headline which has had everyone muted for a while.

Julie was a British tourist in Kenya, during the epitome of political intrigues and impunity.

Popular talk show host and former CNN reporter, Jeff Koinange, could not hide his amazement at such a bold headline in, the rather, conservative East African Nation.

The Publisher of the magazine, Ahmed Nassir, is a respected senior counsel who also heads the country’s judicial service commission. Asked by Koinange whether he thinks he is gone over board, he calmly explained the magazine's editorial policy of ‘abiding by the law.’

So, there we are dear Kenyans. Those mysterious murders, rapes, looting etc were not done by ghosts.

There are real people with real names and bios which the media and the judiciary owe Kenyans information and justice respectively.

In the meantime, and as Koinange indicated in his talk show on 14^th march, 2012, Jonathan is welcome to counter the allegations.

Ahmed Nassir, in the meantime, promises no sacred cows in his call to inform the long suffering citizens.