Their bodies burnt beyond recognition following the helicopter crash on Sunday in Kibiku Forest, Ngong, the task ahead is to ensure that the vision the late Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and his deputy Orwa Ojode had of a peaceful and secured Kenya is not burnt beyond recognition.
Before their demise, Saitoti and Ojode had redoubled their commitment on their mandate, remained proactive and alert on security measures towards achieving the mission of their ministry of providing strategic leadership, policy direction, a secure environment and set the agenda for achieving socio-economic and political development of Kenyans.
Whereas setting aside three days of mourning and awarding the fallen heroes a state funeral are welcome accolades, a special tribute should be in place to ensure that the enthusiastic desire of the two fallen heroes of Kenyans to coexist peacefully and harmoniously is fully achieved.
Terrorism is the major challenge the Kenyan Government is facing especially the threat of Somali Islamist militia group Al-shabaab that has resorted to using grenades to attack innocent Kenyans following the Kenya military offensive inside Somalia to uproot the militia group architected by Saitoti and Ojode.
Ensuring that the war against terror is won and that Kenyans can work and walk in the streets of Nairobi and any other part of the country without fear of being attacked by grenades and improvised explosives devices will be satisfactory mark of respect to the two departed leaders.
Two days before his sudden death at a conference on peace in Mombasa, Saitoti spoke passionately about the need to wrap up reforms that will guarantee Kenyans have a peaceful, free and fair upcoming general election, which sadly he was among the front runners in the race to succeed President Mwai Kibaki.
For now he may be gone, but his zeal and determination together with Ojode to ensure a peaceful election still leaves on. At this moment of mourning, it’s the responsibility of the Government to put in place adequate and sufficient structures to ensure that Kenyans will not return to the dogs as witnessed in the disputed 2007 elections where more than 1000 people lost their lives as a result of post election violence.
Additionally the two will be remembered for being at the forefront in opposing secession calls from the outlawed Mombasa republican council asserting that Kenya’s constitution protects her boundaries. Complete elimination of the threat of illegal groupings like MRC, Mungiki among others will be sufficient respect to the departed Kajiado North and Ndhiwa constituency legislators.
Lastly, the exceptional respect the Kenyans legislators can pay to Saitoti and Ojode is to shun away from their selfish and tribal politics and adhere to Saitoti’s renowned quote that; “There shall come a time a nation is more important than an individual.”
