Patriotism is devotion to country, not President as some leaders believe

A statement by the police on last week's State fiasco in Nakuru vindicates Rigathi Gachagua’s claim that messaging across government departments is done from a central point. It is preposterous for the police high command to condemn excessive use of force by police officers who tear-gassed Butere Girls students in Nakuru and arrested former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala over the controversial ‘Echoes of war’ play. 

The police, like the military, is a disciplined service under a hierarchical command system. Orders cascade down, and it is inconceivable that junior officers can act without explicit orders from above.

It insults the intelligence of Kenyans for the police top rank to infer that junior officers acted independently in arresting Malala and barring the public from watching Butere Girls perform at the music and drama festival in Nakuru. 

In the cacophony of blame and counter-blame that attended to the despicable state action, ludicrous voices were heard. Many pro-government leaders argued that literary works should not mock the presidency, and that they should not be unpatriotic. Others warned that children should be shielded from dirty politics "that does not echo unity for the country". 

In this fast-paced 21st century in which wokeness and technological advancements have completely upset the old mechanical order, such reasoning is archaic. 

In its simplest definition, patriotism is devotion and vigorous support for one's country, yet in their warped thinking, some of our leaders believe patriotism is devotion to the President. 

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Our major undoing is elevating the presidency to the level of divinity. The President has so much power that most times he doesn't know where to channel it. And since we are conditioned not to question the exercise of that power, holders of the office behave like demigods. 

The presidency doesn't bestow a monopoly of ideas and knowledge on the President. Holders must be held accountable by constantly being questioned by those on whose behalf they hold power. 

That is what 'Echoes of war' sought to do because our leaders, the self-styled court jesters, are so mesmerised by proximity to power, they can't tell the king he is naked. 

The presidency, however, deserves respect, not fear or worshipping. Hiding behind useless political coinages and outdated beliefs about the presidency exposes us to the risk of encouraging a sitting president to become a present-day Pol pot, Idi Amin, Adolf Hitler, Mao Zedong or King Leopold II. 

These fellows hold the trophy for being among the world's most evil and deranged leaders. Besides being driven by megalomania, they were vengeful, conducted ethnic cleansing and instigated the murder of millions of their subjects. Under their leadership, their countries' economies collapsed.

The lesson derived from the leadership of these crackpots is that we must elect leaders on the basis of ideas and vision for the country, not how much money one has. It is our obsession with chasing after money that blinds us to the true characters of those we elect. 

It is this obsession that drives leaders to plunder national resources as they plan for the next election, which explains our perpetual campaign mode. 

The plays 'Betrayal in the city' by Francis Imbuga, 'Government Inspector' by Nikolai Golgol and 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell, among others, were once set books in secondary schools. 

They were critical of the government and leaders, yet never brought out the type of state violence that Kenya Kwanza recently unleashed even when they were performed. 'Echoes of war' merely reminds us of the failure of leadership and the generational disconnect that threaten our nationhood. 

What type of government attacks its own children instead of protecting them? A mere play cannot radicalise students. Contrary-wise, poor governance, lack of opportunities for youth, and exploitation by the monied class are sure recipes for radicalisation. 

Democracy cannot afford to remain silent, it must be voluble to scare away totalitarianism that is stealthily creeping in.