“Interior Cabinet secretary Major Gen. (Rtd.) Joseph Nkaissery has died. Nkaissery died a few hours after being admitted at the Karen Hospital in Nairobi for a check-up according to State House. According to a statement by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Joseph Kinyua, Nkaissery fell unwell and was rushed to the city hospital for check up only to pass on a few hours later. Kinyua in a statement said it is with deep sorrow and shock that we announce the sudden passing on of Interior CS General (Rtd.) Joseph Nkaissery. The Government has promised to give updates as more information becomes available. Nkaissery who also served as MP for Kajiado Central in the ten Parliament was aged 67 at the time of his death” (Nosim 90.5 FM Kenya, 08.07.2017).
I wish he was still alive, the powerful Cabinet Minister Joseph Ole Nkaissery, who was the third in-line after Deputy President William Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta. Who has been the CS of the Interior and Coordination of National Government in the first term of the Jubilee Alliance and Jubilee Party. What is more worrying is that the President didn’t wait a minute to appoint his successor, CS Fred Matiang’i. Therefore, the death of Nkaissery hadn’t even been spread to all corners of Kenya, before the President had appointed the one to take over the Ministry.
What is strange is that yesterday he was at the Prayers at the Uhuru Park. The next day dying at Karen Hospital in Nairobi over high blood-pressure. This happening just days before the 8th August 2017 polls. A strong man and viable man like Nkaissery, seems like a fighter and a determined man. Not like the one who gives in easy and let it go. Not that I respected his will to stop demonstrations, use police brutality and use force against innocent. I didn’t and I don’t. Still, I don’t wont the adversary to fall over ill-attempt or unjust acts as well. If you want justice for all, than you want that for your political adversary as well.
Nkaissery, had not trouble using the Police Service to stop his opposition and explain why he could use it to silence them. He had no trouble using the police to make life hard for the opposition, surely Governor Hassan Ali Joho knows how the Police was used to stop his work. So now if the Police are serious, they will probe this death correctly and find the reason behind his death. Since it happens so convenient before the polls.
Therefore, this is report on the sudden death as well: “Detective have launched investigations into the sudden death of Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery. Scene of crime detectives on Saturday pitched tent at Nkaissery’s home in Karen Hardy, Nairobi. The investigators were piecing together the CS’s last moments. The first team arrived at the minister’s home in the morning and was joined by a different team at around 3pm” (Kimanthi, 2017). So the Police that he served and run, the one he controlled until his death is now investigating his death. To make sure their wasn’t any criminal intent behind it. But you can wonder with the timing and the power of the CS. It was not like CS Nkaissery didn’t have massive amounts of power and his place in society.
Clearly, this was known and the question now is why he suddenly died. What was the cause, was it high blood-pressure or was it some ill-intent involved. Since that wouldn’t be unlikely considering the timing of it all. Political assassinations isn’t new and extra-judicial killings has happen in the recent time in Kenya. You wouldn’t wish that on anyone, not on a CS Nkaissery or anyone else. Therefore, if this is possible, it surely could happen to him. Since he had power and because of use of state machinery and police, would give someone motivation to stop him.
That is all just mere speculation at this point, but not so far fetched, since he was reckless and using all sort tactics to stop his adversaries. There we’re no quarrel from him when it come to use police and extended force to silence them. So he surely made enough enemies within his days of power. If there was anyone would wish him ill. The ones that used aggression towards could have acted towards him.
The Statement on his passing from the State House: “It is with deep sorrow and shock that we announce the sudden passing on of Interior CS Retired General Joseph Nkaissery. Gen. Nkaissery passed on at Karen Hospital in Nairobi a few hours after being admitted for a check-up. The country to be updated as more information becomes available. Joseph Kinyua – Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service – STATE HOUSE” (Kinyua, 08.07.2017).
Even his adversary who has been battling with the Police and the Courts under CS Nkaissery, Gov. Hassan Ali Joho wrote this: “I am in deep shock to learn that (Rtd) General Joseph Ole Nkaissery is no more. I have fond memories of the late CS when we served together as ODM members of parliament. General Nkaissery was a hard working and dedicated servant of the people. On my behalf and that of the people of Mombasa together with the ODM family I assure his family and friends of our support at this critical moment. May the almighty give them strength to overcome the tragedy. Rest In Peace General Nkaissery” (Hassan Ali Joho, 08.07.2017).
That his death was shock, it is true, that the CS Nkaissery has a long political history and used his power in office. That him as a Jubilee Cabinet Minister seriously has used his office to extend and stop the opposition. This is well known, but that doesn’t mean that he would deserve to die for his hard work. Even if his police killed demonstrators and put people in hospital for the police brutality. He would have deserved justice for his acts, not death, but a fair trial for his attempts of justice.
But what bugs me, is how quick CS Matiang’i got appointed, even before the detectives started detecting, before the news we’re broken and before any indication of reason behind his death. That the Jubilee Administration, that the President and Deputy President could get a new man in his place. Proves the little care for the death of their own loyal CS, who defended and stood on the barricades, using his ministry and his understanding of the law, to gain more strength for the Jubilee. Therefore, you should not only be shocked by the sudden death of Nkaissery, but of the quickly appointed in his government post.
No mourning, no justice, just continue like normal when the most powerful after Kenyatta and Ruto died. Just an appointment, brief stopping campaigns and having a minute of silence. But the State House shouldn’t have appointed Matiang’i today. Nkaissery, even if he was ruthless and using his powers with fierce force, still deserved better treatment by his allies. The Jubilee should have known better and thought more true it all. So the people could seek solace and also find relief in the investigation into the death. Instead, the questions becomes even more evident. Since they could find someone within hours of his death.
There are only unanswered questions, only stones to turn to find the reason behind it. If it really was high blood-pressure or if there was some other reason. We cannot know at this point, but the mere fact remain, that the shock will be revealed and the reality of the matter will come to the courts and in the public eye. These questions need to be answered and then we can live at ease, that the CS wasn’t terminated at ill-will, but of age and high blood-pressure. Peace.
Reference:
Kimanthi, Kennedy – ‘Detectives probe CS Joseph Nkaissery death’ (08.07.2017) link: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Detectives-probe-CS-Joseph-Nkaissery-death/1056-4006364-gdkfs5/index.html
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