By Dorcas S
I have argued on this forum that the President of the Republic of Kenya is a unifying personality. The Presidency ought to bring ALL Kenyans together irrespective of party affiliations, ideological leanings and ethnic composition.
This might be a tall order but then to whom much is given, much is expected. The President, by virtue of his position, is placed on the highest pedestal and is judged harshly. The things ordinary mortals, ordinary politicians, nondescript public figures can get away with, the President cannot!
It is against this backdrop that I have an issue with his remarks in Narok, during Ole Ntimama’s burial ceremony. His statement, “Watameza mate sisi tukikula nyama”, was in bad taste. Boasting about how you eat meat as others feed on air burgers was disrespectful and arrogant to the vast majority who live on less than a dollar a day. These are Kenyans who eat meat once a year. And yet they are the same Kenyans he wants their votes! What is the President’s obsession with meat?
Not very long ago he said newspapers are for wrapping meat! The print media employs thousands of Kenyans. This was akin to belittling a section of Kenyans who get their daily bread from the distribution and sale of newspapers including suppliers. These companies contribute significantly towards the exchequer without which government operations would suffer irreparable damage.
The Governor of Kwale, Salim Mvurya can get away with the “mwishowe wataishia kumeza mate sisi tukila nyama” slur. After all he is head of a small County at the coast (no pun intended). Not so the President. He has to guard his tongue, measure his words and consider the repercussions of every word that he utters in public.
Munishi sang, “Ulimi kiungo kidogo matatizo yake makubwa”. A bright opposition would use the President’s words to their advantage. They should use his reckless statement to depict him as a bourgeois who doesn’t care about the holloi polloi and, hopefully, run away with victory in the 2017 election.
His excellency Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta bit more than he could chew. He has given his side kicks a hard time trying to control the damage caused by his uncalled for remarks.
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