OBAMA-MANIA: THE GREAT VISIT AND THE GREAT INJUSTICE

THE GREAT VISIT

POTUS (President of the United States) Mr. Barrack Hussein Obama was in the city. Potholes were covered, grass was planted, security was tightened, flags were hoisted and street families evacuated from the City. In those three days POTUS was on the land of his forefathers, he had placed Kenya on the spot light, the whole world had converged in Kenya and our country was topic of discussion in every corner of this planet. Kenya grabbed these opportunity to shine and of course we outshined and for sure the future is more than bright.

Mr. Barrack came to represent the interest of the American People and we met him as a partner in creating an enterprising environment that will ensure economic development that will meet Kenyans Interests.

Apart from the high class motorcade, we are going to remember Obama for pointing out that empowering woman, youth, media and civil society as the foundation for a democratic society. More so he noted that the fight against corruption and terrorism was the way forward for economic development. His visit to Kenya for sure is a symbol of the confidence the Global Entrepreneurs have in investing in Kenya.

THE GREAT INJUSTICE

As an advocate of Human Rights I cannot fail to note how street families vanished from the street. Information from independent trusted Media Houses alleged that the street families were “arrested” by National Youth Service (NYS) at night and placed in Lorries and taken in “custody” at Joseph Kangethe Community Centre in Woodley. The center was guarded by County askaris all through the period Mr. Obama was in town to prevent these economically disadvantaged people from escaping. Journalists were as well denied entrance to the centre and it was hard to know the conditions they were being subjected to during their stay at the centre. They were then released immediately the visitation ended.

This type of Act was unconstitutional, inhumane and should be rebuked with the strongest terms possible.

Is it a crime to be poor? Why were these families discriminated on economic and social status grounds yet everyone is equal before the law?

Every Kenyan has inherent dignity and the right to have that dignity respected and protected and actually the main purpose Kenya has a Constitution as per Article 19(2) is to preserve the dignity of individuals and communities. These economically disadvantaged Kenyans dignity as humans was violated. They were treated as second class citizens who ought to be hidden from the eyes of visitors and investors. Yes, we need to impress our visitors but it should not be at the expense of violating any human being rights and freedoms.

It is the high time the government and we Kenyans partner together and come up with a permanent solution to stop such acts. As per the Kenya Budget for the fiscal year 2015/2016 read by the Cabinet Secretary, Honourable Henry Rotich, Street families and vulnerable children were allocated approximately Kshs. 9.7 Billion. This money is enough to progressively empower these vulnerable members of the society to ensure they are empowered and self-reliant. Poverty is the greatest violation of human rights and freedoms that no man should be subjected to.