In every constitutional democracy, the supremacy of the people is greater than any government or institution. The people retain the power to address their government or other institutions directly, regardless of the fact that they have elected a National Assembly. This they can do by petition, picketing or demonstrating. In extreme cases, they can result to civil disobedience. So fundamental is this supremacy that in the United States of America, the constitution provides that it is a constitutional right for the people to own and bear arms, for the constitutionally sanctioned reason that in the event of a dictatorship, they can lawfully resort to their supremacy and form a militia against the tyrannical government. The Kenyan Constitution 2010 for the first time asserted the supremacy of the people over government, institutions and even the Constitution itself. So what happened at Uhuru Park yesterday is in line with our constitution, The opposition, exercising the constitutionally right of the people to demonstrate against the government, brought together like minded Kenyans to send a message directly to the government about their dissatisfaction with it. The government in power respected their right to do so and the police licensed the rally and provided security for it. Similar meeting are planned all over the country. If they are all well attended, then the message will be clear to the government that the people are not happy, and that regardless of how many legislators it controls, the people remain supreme and could result to civil disobedience against it. And no right thinking government would want to challenge the supremacy of the people over it by quoting parliamentary majorities and constitutional provisions.That the reason president uhuru embraced national dialogue which was called for by cord yesterday.
By Dr.Paul Bundi Karau I arrived at Kanyakine High School on 18th February 1999 a small village boy. I had never been to a boarding school, and certainly this is the furthest from home I had ever gone. The boys who were assigned to escort me to Mungania dorm looked at my stunted height and loudly wondered how I would survive in Beast's school. "Who is Beast?" I asked in bewilderment. "You will know." Musyoki answered curtly. It didn't take me long to know who Beast was. The following day, as the 10 o'clock tea was being served, I heard a commotion, with boys leaving their tea and running helter-skelter towards the classrooms. I was a fresh mono, so I didn't know what was happening. I ran along the pavement, and came upon a mighty man, who appeared to be adjusting his trousers. He yanked his belt and thrust one whip towards me. I had encountered Beast himself. He was tall, imposing, burly and endowed with a thunderous voice that could re...
Comments