We, friends and colleagues of George Paul Oulu who was yesterday slain in cold blood gather here today with deep sorrow to mourn the passing of a national hero. Oulu, who was fondly referred to by all as G.P.O was a young man who lived and breathed with a fierce passion for his country. G.P.O tirelessly defended the rights of those denied justice, gave a voice to the voiceless and had big dreams and great plans for the future of this country. His life rhythm moved to the same heartbeat and pulse as that of the continent’s.
His death cannot be looked at as a random act of lawlessness, we have reason to believe his life was taken to silence him from speaking out on the lawless extra-judicial killings that have occurred and still occur in the country. We take issue with the spin that has been taken, portraying him as a mungiki operative as a means to justify his death. His death too cannot be seen in isolation from the events that have been taking place in the country. It is part of the general impunity that has blanketed the country that has seen lives taken without recourse to justice and that has seen the police assault and harass patriotic citizens coming out to speak on vital issues of governance.
We are now putting the government on notice. We have watched the trends that it slowly sliding to, leading the country down the slippery slope as it desperately clings on to a fragile power that it will go to evil lengths to maintain. We demand that investigations be conducted immediately and the perpetrators be brought conclusively to book, whether they be state operators or not. This government must realize that fear will never keep those striving for a better Kenya down and the collective will of the people will always prevail. It is such notorious practices as these that spark off revolutions against oppressive powers.
If nothing else, we hope G.P.O’s death serves as a wake up call to the citizens of this great nation. We cannot afford to keep our noses out of our governance and act as if we are living in islands of peace and bliss when in truth, we are surrounded by fear, misery, impunity, insecurity and hunger of whose walls we are enchained within. Let us all speak out with one voice and condemn the death of Oulu and Kingara. Let us realize that if we remain silent, we are only barricading ourselves into walls where we can be easily reached and done away with similarly, one by one. As in Nazi Germany, they came for people group by group, first the Catholics, then the Protestants, then the trade unionists until there was no one left to speak out for the Jews. Let us not get to the point here where eventually there will be no one left to stand up for us when push comes to shove.
G.P.O, may your heart rest in eternal peace, you will be avenged.
About the Author
Whats the deal with the established intitutions have they lost their direction yet again. To break down is to make up! Now is the full concequence of this taken into account. When and where shall these pathetic actions of the Leaders be questioned?
Since the days of colonialisim it was the only way to stay in power for the colonisers, by killing directly those who showed indifference to their agenda. No we got the 2009 version which is not the colonisers but their puppets who have got themselves into very compromising positions thru their missdeeds over the years. Now they will stop at nothing to keep that from coming to the surface.
They need reconciliation the most for the future of not just Kenya but the region, continent and if I may world situation we see today. Impunity has never been good and when it is an everyday practise for those given the possibility to be of service for the nation we have lost our way. At the ballot we need to be more aware of who and what we put to represent us.
Mkate na chai doesn+t help more than now, so we need to not sell out at the first cheap shots at getting our votes, all kenyans.
Rhetoric and the cost of not understanding it is now tooooo expensive in the face of the society we have today. Therefore we lean on what we know and that is to be worked on in every style and fashion to empower all to more than the current status quo can or will ever deliver.
Arne
Chairperson
Afreeswedes Rights and Capacitation centre.
KSB: Well written Arne. Get in touch for a continuation of the discussions especially on the key issues you raised on the phone.