Open letter to Kenya's First Lady

THE FIRST LADY IS A BAD INFLUENCE. February 8

Dear mama Lucy Muthoni Kibaki, I am an East African citizen. But I owe my utmost loyalty to the dignity and decency of the African people. It is in the rich and decent African culture and moral values that I derive my pride and moral authority to write to you this open letter.

In 2005, I read about you. It was on your earlier raid at the Nation Centre. Mama Lucy, I hope you still remember that despicable conduct. You assaulted a journalist, interrupted business and vandalised media equipment but got away with it, allegedly for negative media coverage.

In the African culture, the nakedness of a mother or an elder is not discussed in public. In fact it is a taboo to do so. And on that account, Kenyans and indeed the rest of Africa pardoned you.

Unfortunately, you did not stay put. On several accounts, you chose to strip yourself of every bit of dignity befitting you as the mother of a nation. Hardly two months ago, on the last Jamhuri Day celebrations, you slapped an under Secretary, Mr Francis Musyimi, at the State House garden party.

Mama Lucy, you did this in full view of cameras and the diplomatic corps. Your action amounted to contempt and total disregard of the stature and honour with which the people of Kenya held you and your family.

You abused the mandate and faith of the Kenyan people; who willingly, entrusted your husband with the highest office of the land in 2002. Imagine; you went this extra mile and sold your decorum as an African mother in place of a mere title.

You have also before taken issue with former Vice-President Moody Awori for referring to you as Second Lady -and many more.

Now you have done it again. Even the on-going skirmishes and blood letting that has bedevilled Kenya mean nothing to you.

It is now emerging that you assaulted Imenti Central MP Mr Gitobu Imanyara at State House three weeks ago. And it is very disappointing that you can still afford to look Kenyans in the face, and deny this latest incident without blinking.

You and the machinery around you are acting with impunity. You have embarrassed Kenya as a nation and disgraced Africa. I have had to lower my head in shame, as a son whose mother has been stripped naked in full view of the public.

Your actions are dangerously deviant to the moral obligation and fabric your subjects demand of you. You have printed an episode of a disgraceful legacy, stained with insolence.

You have mocked the essence of human sanctity, and insulted the pride of all African mothers. Africa expected you to be the icon of hope and a living testimony to the young African mothers who will come after you.

But you are the opposite of an African mother; full of love and compassion. I have to bend my head low in shame.

Paul Amoru
Nairobi