GUNS N' NOSES

Joseph Raz,a legal positivist described the medieval times as an era when subjects could not probe authority, and were burdened with the curse of obeying the high handed directives of lesser persons simply because they had the privilege of undeserving authority. Dark times one might think, but alas, it would seem the madness of an era we would rather forget will not stop tagging at the tails of our coats.

The enthusiasm with which Kenyans embraced the new constitution is a true testament to the assertion that it does not matter how badly the confidence of a people has been eroded, they can still find hope at the slightest opportunity. The hope that Kenyans have carried is that the new constitution would set in motion processes that would rectify the wrongs with which we have had to contend by reason of bad governance.

We may have weaknesses as a people, but we are not a stupid lot. We knew from the get go that the constitution is just a lifeless document unless we put Kenyan men and women in office who can breath life into it. So a rigorous process was kicked off in an effort to find the best candidates to fill certain positions and key among them was the ....wait for it....judiciary. So far Dr. willy Mutunga has done an excellent job. He has executed his charge with a fearless zeal that is awe inspiring. From admitting legal practitioners to the bar, to standing up to the executive when it exhibited an unspeakable form of arrogance over that Bashir mess. Hats off to you sir!

But into the garden a serpent did enter.

Not only was it annoying, but terribly embarrassing for the whole country when the deputy CJ, Nancy Baraza behaved like an insane vigilante and then made matters worse by issuing a press statement that was devoid of any sense to defend her less than graceful behavior.

Dear deputy CJ, I do not know if you have been watching the news, but there is a war on. We have our sons and daughters shedding blood in Somalia trying to defend our way of life. As such the retaliation by the enemy is not conventional. They have carried out terrorist attacks on the people of this country and therefore security must be beefed up in the homeland. And yes, that means being frisked when you enter a shopping mall. What really gets my goat is that she had the gall to pinch miss Kerubo's nose before brandishing a gun and waving it in her face! Let's not forget that this was after she unsuccessfully ordered her bodyguard to shoot the poor young lady.

I may be wrong, but when we said we want reformists, we did not mean gun totting, nose pinching lunatics.

I must say this of you dear deputy CJ. You have shamed us, and you have shamed the judiciary by your display of arrogance and your disgusting inability to show your fellow Kenyan even the slightest modicum of respect. You showed no class. None whatsoever.

I know she's a powerful woman and has tutored us to know that it is still possible to have your life destroyed and/or your nose pinched if you step on big toes. So after posting this article, I will walk around with a nuisance mask for a while. I shudder at the thought of having my nose pinched. That just wouldn't do.