A NASA supporter, wearing a Raila Odinga T-shirt, walks with a blood-filled knife and a bunch of bananas, having stabbed a woman at the market. [Photo/ W.Thuku]
As expected, the return of National Resistance Movement (NRM) leader Raila Odinga led to the death of at least 15 people, destruction of property and disruption of normal operations in many parts of Nairobi. Knowing how violent key supporters of Raila are, police warned that they could not be allowed to the busy airport, but that did not stop the NRM militia from trying to force their way into JKIA to ‘welcome Baba’.The six-hour journey from JKIA to the Nairobi CBD saw the NRM militia rape a woman operating an Mpesa shop and steal more than Sh300,000 from the her. The innocent young lady is now admitted in hospital, having been raped repeatedly. Just like previous ‘peaceful’ outings by Raila’s supporters, the NRM militia stoned cars of other Kenyans, set others on fire and disrupted traffic on the busy roads from the airport. The city came to a standstill. The insurgents also threw stones, at close range, to police officers who had come to maintain law and order. A number of law enforcement officers were injured. On reaching town, at least one NASA supporter was pictured having a blood-filled knife and a bunch of bananas in the other hand. Witnesses said the young man had stabbed a woman who was selling bananas at the market, and made away with the fruits.Raila’s response, after the chaos by his militia, was quick to blame the police and the Jubilee administration. He ignored the violence that his supporters unleashed on innocent Kenyans. The country was at peace while he was away. It must be remembered that Raila seems to be the only politician who benefits when there is chaos and anarchy in the country. In 2007/08, after he refused to concede defeat to then-President Mwai Kibaki, he called for ‘mass action’, which led to the deaths of more than 1,300 people and displacement of at least 600,000 Kenyans from their homes. As a result, Raila became prime minister. Some analysts have predicted that the ODM leader wants his supporters to cause chaos so that he can benefit by forcing a coalition government with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who beat resoundingly in the two elections held this year. Kenyans are tired of the politics of violence by some leaders. They are refusing to be turned against their neighbours. It is time to say goodbye to the leaders who incite. The country is bigger than the ambitions of any single individual.