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| lawyer-turned-activist Morara Kebaso |
While the overwhelming majority of people called for his unconditional release, some even threatening to flood the streets again for a fresh round of protests, some members of Parliament appeared to celebrate his arrest – with one MP even making a crass suggestion related to Morara’s detention.
As the internet burned with calls to free the popular civic educator, Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi also threw in his opinion. To him, Morara was merely a caricature; a ‘young man’ with no real threat to the State and, even, no job.
Reacting to the arrest, Amisi wrote: “This @MoraraKebasoSnr is a young man performing arts and comedy on the streets for a living. He can’t hurt a fly. Let’s stop the theatrics and focus!”
Kenyans quickly picked up the condescending tone in the legislator’s tweet and wasted no time in tearing him apart and blasting him for the insolence.
While some picked issue with the fact that the MP seemed to suggest that Morara’s national tours, to educate the masses and highlight government wantonness, were merely a comic trip, others were outraged by his choice of words in reference to the fast-rising political star.
“Young man? Why does this sound like you are trying to belittle him and view him as an inconsequential boy in the eyes of the nation? Morara has more national appeal than you will ever have! Put some respect on that man’s name!” someone wrote on X.
Someone else commented: “You think Morara does ‘comedy’ for a living? Clearly, you haven’t studied this man’s success prior to his civic education tours. He’s a 29-year old multimillionaire with a home and cars probably better than yours!”
As the torrent of vitriolic responses continued to pour in, Amisi found it best to delete the offensive tweet altogether and replace it with something a little more balanced.
Moments later, he shared yet another Morara-inspired tweet. This time, it read: “Please release @MoraraKebasoSnr he can’t cause you any harm! . Let’s focus on matters of national importance!”
Yet again, the comments flooded in, with many attaching screenshots of his earlier tweet, censuring the MP for the doublespeak.
Ahmed Bakari said,” Next time say it with your chest! Don’t just throw around words and then run away from the consequences. Real men stick up to their thoughts no matter how unpopular!”
As Amisi was having his day with Kenyans, yet another MP delved into the matter – leaving an unpalatable taste in the mouths of many.
Gatundu North MP Njoroge Kururia also came under fire for appearing to suggest that Morara’s arrest was justified, and even praising the police behind the arrest.
Speaking in an interview with Inooro FM on Tuesday, October 1, Njoroge also expressed his desire for Morara to be held at a police station within his Gatundu constituency, which he said was infested with ‘chokora’ (street children).
He said: “I saw him speak and say several things which made him quite popular with the masses. He’s talked about me too, he’s insulted me too. Now I see he’s being taken around police stations, I would wish he would be booked at a cell at Gatundu North, where there are street children… “
He added, “God bless the police who apprehended him. He needs to be taken round and round even more so that he knows that this is a republic with laws.”
Kururia’s comments, expectedly, angered Kenyans online with many embracing the thought that, by wishing to throw Morara into a cell choking with ‘street boys’, he may have been wishing physical and even sexual violence on the 29-year old activist.
“Listen carefully: He wishes Morara would be booked in the same cell with Chokoras. For what purpose? So that they beat him up and sodomize him! These are the people you call your leaders!” Mary Wanjau tweeted.
Zachary Oguda also responded to the video stating, “I have said it and I’ll repeat if we are to change how this country is run, we need to start recalling such MPs.”
On Tuesday, October 1, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has recommended charging activist Morara Kebaso with harassment for allegedly staining the reputation of Uasin Gishu businessman David Langat.
According to the charge sheet, the ODPP accuses Kebaso of cyber harassment under Section 27 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018.
He is alleged to have committed the offense on September 28, 2024, at an undisclosed location, along with others not before the court.
By Kenneth Gachie