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Monday, July 09, 2007

Kangema Constituency Countdown To Elections 2007: Youthful Michuki Challenger Harassed By Police

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Is This A Sign Of Things To Come?

I have often said in this blog that the older generation of Kenyan politicians only knows how to play dirty in politics and sadly you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. The drama that is unfolding in Kangema Constituency, is a perfect illustration of this.

My heart goes out to Paul Kimani Mugo of Kangema. The 32-year old Nairobi businessman is really feeling the heat of "daring to oppose" the powerful Minister whose docket is internal security. Internal security incase you did not know, includes the police, although it is a well known fact that the Police commissioner Maj General Mohamed Hussein Ali and his boss don't see eye to eye (the latest spat between the two is over what the Minister told his constituents is police harassment under the pretext of smoking out Mungiki suspects—something that is not news to Kumekucha readers). Still, as the infamous raid on Standard newspapers proved, the Minister can bypass the commissioner and give direct orders to policemen at any time he wishes to do so.

Three weeks ago, young Mugo was arrested by police officers on the streets of Nairobi. The policemen had trailed him all the way from Kangema. Mugo was locked up for two days. The charge police were pursuing? You will not believe it. Careless driving.

In the first place it is strange for somebody to be locked up for a traffic offence after being arrested by plain-clothes policemen who most probably were attached to the CID. And then it is also very rare for people to get locked up for traffic offences.

Obviously there was no complainant (apart from probably the officers and maybe the Minister himself). The ordeal only ended when Mugo's family had the sense to hire a lawyer. Still, the last time Kumekucha checked Mugo is still following a police order to report to a city police station daily (what a brilliant way to keep an eye on your political opponent while intimidating them at the same time).

However what is exciting voters in Kangema who see the possibility of a giant-killing feat at the constituency, is the fact that over 60 per cent of the population at the constituency can be classified as "youths." I wonder if any IDs were being issued to youngsters at the constituency during the voter registration period—which ends tomorrow. Mr Mugo comes from a very humble background in Rwathia village within the constituency.

What probably irked the Internal security minister the most is the fact that young Mugo has often been heard describing him to constituents as a "brutal person" (ta nyamu for our Kikuyu speakers). And of course the fact that the aspirant has struck a chord and excited many constituents with his promises to tackle head-on the main problems on the ground including poor payments to coffee and tea farmers. Mugo himself hails from a tea-growing zone.

The photographs Kumekucha feared to publish.

Horror of Kenyan with female sex organ sharing cell with men at Kamiti Prison

Are you a Kenyan? Do You love your country? Join in this noble campaign to change things. Do something instead of just complaining.