Raila Odinga at a past anti-IEBC protest. [Photo/ The Star]
It is ironical for NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga to demand the government to issue him with round the clock security, while he is planning and sponsoring violence against helpless State employees. For about 10 years now, Raila has been enjoying the protection of highly trained VIP bodyguards, who are employees of the government and therefore paid for by the Kenyan people. The former prime minister also relies on government vehicles issued to him to move around. But after pushing the government hard to the wall, and following his nation-wide call on his supporters to forcefully eject IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba and 10 other officials from the Anniversary Towers offices, Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i did the right thing in withdrawing the government police officers who protect the ODM leader. The CS said that the government, mandated by the constitution to ensure the safety of all Kenyans, was concerned that opposition politicians were making repeated attempts to cause chaos. “We cannot tolerate that anymore. They have pushed us to the wall and we are saying enough is enough. We have been providing them police security and we have now withdrawn it. That is final and there is no negotiation over our action,” Dr Matiang’i said, as quoted by The Star.How can Raila expect to continue enjoying free government protection while he causes chaos on innocent Kenyans who are trying to do their jobs well? It beats logic. As the CS said, the government cannot waste its resources providing security to people “hellbent on malice and out to destabilise the same system that takes care of them.”No law has been broken in taking away the police officers who guard Raila on a 24-hour basis. Unlike Chiloba and other low-ranking election officials, Raila — a billionaire — has the means to protect himself.