The Terrorists Have Won. Kenyans Have Turned On One Another: Ciku Muiruri

This week, the terrorists have won. Kenyans have turned on one another. This week, the terrorists are emboldened. They have finally gotten to us. There is no trend resembling #someonetellAlshabaab. No. All that is on social media are very scared Kenyans whose Twitter reputation it seems, cannot stand up to a real enemy. So, I wonder about that mother whose child is gone. That husband whose wife is dead. That orphan. What do they think of all this? We didn’t start this fight, Al Shabaab did! If we let them win, will it not ultimately mean that all the victims have died in vain? That our soldiers have also died in vain?

During the American Civil war, morale was weak after a battle where thousands of soldiers were killed. But due to Abraham Lincoln’s rousing words, the North endured and eventually won the war. I paraphrase his words for my Kenyan brothers and sisters who are rightfully afraid, and especially those grieving having lost those closest to them:

We are engaged in a long war, testing whether this nation can long endure. It is for us, the living, to be dedicated here, to the unfinished work that their deaths so nobly represent. It is for us to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. That we here, highly resolve, that these dead shall not have died in vain…

That’s the promise we must make to them. That they did not die in vain! #SomeTellAlshabaab.

If indeed they are responsible for the latest atrocity. ‘Wag the dog’ is an expression made popular by a movie of the same name. It means what it suggests – The tail is wagging the dog. Basically, things are done in the complete opposite way, of how they should be. It’s a strategy that involves starting a war or military operation to divert attention from yourself. God knows nothing makes media move on more quickly, than a war. And in our case, war on terror. 

As I pen this – on Tuesday – Al Shabaab have not yet claimed responsibility for the Thika Road bus attacks. They probably, eventually will but what’s taking so long? It bothers me. Is it them or not? And worse, if it isn’t them (and they are just as confused as to who is blowing up buses in Nairobi), but choose to take the credit anyway, then what? That’s what terrorists do. If you can blow someone up I doubt you will draw the line at plagiarizing someone else’s work. Then to add fuel to my conspiracy filled mind, Kenyans are rightly debating National Security issues and everything else is forgotten. This at a time when the Anglo leasing ghosts have reappeared to haunt us. Wag the Dog?

It’s not as far fetched as you may think; sometimes the simplest explanations are usually the correct ones. Is our real enemy within? For me, an Anglo leasing ghost is far more dangerous in the long term than a terrorist. The latter is more flamboyant with his attacks but the former is far more potent. Like a rat that nibbles pieces of your flesh and simultaneously blows on it while you sleep. You wake up in the morning and half your ear is chewed off! 

Terrorists are Johnny- come-latelies. Anglo leasing ghosts have been around through THREE successive governments. You honestly want to tell me that Al Shabaab scares you more? Ghosts are more eerie. Ghosts will keep you up at night. These phantoms will still be dealing with our grandchildren way after Al Shabaab is long gone.

-ghafla.co.ke