Quotes: Senator Moses Wetang’ula on political ‘bad manners’, limits of freedom of speech and double standards in the application of the law.
Senator Moses Masika Wetang’ula is Ford Kenya Party leader (See story on Ford Kenya party coup-d’etat). He’s a former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2008 to 2010; 2011 to 2012), and Minister of Trade (2012 to 2013) of the Republic of Kenya. He represented Sirisia constituency in The National Assembly (February 2003 until January 2013). Was elected to the Senate of Kenya in 2013; where to date, he serves the people of Bungoma.
The Quote: Senator Moses Wetang’ula on political ‘bad manners’
“Politicians who are trying to out do each other in the display of bad manners and use of foul language deserve unqualified condemnation. They have crossed the line of freedom of speech. A uniform application of the [law?] will week out such misfits. The problem with our country is application of double standards. Treat all equally before the law and these political bad manners will be over. The President is a symbol of the unity of the nation and deserves respect regardless.”
— Senator Moses Wetang’ula, Kenya Senate representative of Bungoma County.
About the quote
Often the limits of personal freedom is a matter of much conjecture and emotive debate. The cardinal question is how does society ensure that the exercise of one’s right does not infringe infringing on the rights of others, especially in the context of a prevailing injustice when one party feels aggrieved and uses the aggravation as justification of their ‘bad manners’ as Senator Wetangula puts it.
Is legislation is a sufficient tool? If so, how do we apply such law equally and justly? Weighing in, Senator Wetang’ula is categorical that political expediency is never sufficient reason for such ‘bad manners’.
It appears the good senator is not in doubt that leaders should always be reigned in by the responsibility they hold as office bearers and movers of men. Moreover, he cautions about selective application of the law in such ways that politics determines who shouldn’t or should be reprimanded or punished for threatening the integrity of the fabric of society.
Context
This quote by Senator Moses Wetang’ula on political ‘bad manners’, is a compilation of tweets (here and here) sent out on 8th September 2020. The Senator’s comments were in response to a raging national debate following the seeking of, and thereafter arrest and charging of Kapsaret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi over allegations of hate speech and incitement.
