HUMAN DIGNITY 

Armin Meiwes was good to his neighbours doing normal neighbourhood activities with them, at times inviting them into his house for dinner. In march 2001 Meiwes advertised on the internet for a "young well-built man, who wanted to be eaten". Around 6 people responded to the advert saying that they were willing. Of the 6 Bernd Brandes replied and took further steps and travelled to Meiwes house. Both men were well to do professionals. Meiwes was a computer expert while Brandes was an Engineer. They had some conversation between them going on till night. As would later be produced in court to prove prior agreement by the victim, meiwes recorded all the proceedings including Brandes express agreement. Meiwes proceeded to cut a part of Brandes who later died and for the next few weeks, Meiwes enjoyed eating everyday before he was apprehended. Maiwes is still serving his life imprisonment and is now 63 years old.

That is not an interesting story but the number of people around our country that have no second thought killing other people is on the rise and very scary. What happened to us as a people? What happened to the value of human life? Why is killing in Kenya a very easy transaction nowadays? 

The story of Albert Ojwang is the latest. Police version of the story is that he hit himself on walls of the cell he was in. Many people doubt that version and there has been many angles to the story to increase likeliness that he was actually murdered. A sad story of a young Kenyan dying for a reason not equivalent to the mistakes he made.

Another Kenyan, David Mwai also died in police cell. He had been arrested for attempting to Kill someone called Idriss. He had been given the job and accepted. Idriss was friend and campaigner to a well known politician before their friendship became sour. Idriss knew so much about the person and was threatening to speak and damage his career.....so....

Mwai was supposed to reveal the people who contracted him to kill but is said to have committed suicide in police cells before that happened. 

An MP, Ong'ondo Were was sometime back shot dead on Ngong road. A priest who had previously hosted a top politician would later be found murdered. Let's not talk about the many young people killed by police bullets in the height of street demonstrations.

And the stories of people being Killed never seem to end.

What happened to our humanity? How can we restore respect and dignity to human life? 

God's commandment No. 6 is, 'Do not Kill' and since that seems not to matter to many of our country men, may be we need healing for our land and that needs Christians to take 2 Chronicles 7:14 action, 'If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.'

Or what shall we do?

@ Stephen Mungai