Resilient sycophancy refuses to dress up civilly, with politicians hankering for patronage even during the age of the 2010 Constitution.
Attention-seekers claim they do not want the gravy train to leave the station without their communities, even though their plea is personal. They cannot be salivating for presidential largesse on behalf of their communities. Communities are already covered in the equitable allocation of resources under the competent hands of Micah Cheserem, chairman of the Commission on Revenue Allocation.
The same Constitution demands the composition of public offices, including security agencies and the Cabinet, respects national diversity and merit.
Which means those pleading with Kenyans to move on are not saying what they mean, and do not mean what they are saying.
Their coded language is louder in self-interest, as it tramples on higher ideals like justice, fairness, democracy, and the rule of law. This covetous glee is no more than a determination to share in President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta’s legendary largesse.
They want a seat on the high table before it gets crowded.
Their glee as they court the President-elect’s attention would shame the grin of the jolly cat that had the cream. They have seen the cream and they are salivating, even when the ownership of the quarry is still disputed. Self-interest has never been so blatant, with its victims panting like a magician charmed by the fatty testicles of a prize ram.
No one is going to restrain politicians Omingo Magara, The Reverend Ken Nyagudi, Musalia Mudavadi, Wavinya Ndeti, and others in their plea for attention.
They do not want to wait.
They just want to be seen and to be remembered when the banquet is ready.
When you pledge loyalty to a president-elect even before a case challenging the declaration of a win is resolved, you are essentially pouring scorn on the rule of law.
You are exposing raw instincts that refuse to be tempered with civic responsibility. And it is the rule of law that has safeguarded the soul of the nation against the ravages of the 2007 General Election.
About five years ago, there was no respect for the rule of law. The mighty ordered the late chairman of the then Electoral Commission Samuel Kivuitu to flee with the trophy at sundown to the waiting arms of then Chief Justice Evan Gicheru.
The flight took place as battle-ready police fought citizens across the land. Darkness had befallen a country that then claimed good governance.
It was a terrible way to celebrate election victory then, and a sad backdrop of adorning the crown. Democracy had been compromised; justice was on trial, with banners proclaiming, mnyonge hana haki.
Kenya has come a long way in five years. The country is praying that the 2010 Constitution would shield the weak and the strong, the meek and the mighty, the rich and the poor, the minority and the majority from victimisation.
Just a little wait before invading the high table would not hurt. It would show understanding of the electoral process under the 2010 Constitution and the place of the Supreme Court and other courts in it arbitrating post-election disputes.
Crumb delight
Former Party of Action presidential aspirant Raphael Tuju and his new-found ally, Miguna Miguna launched the charade.
They were fast in calling the attention of the President-elect to their willingness to enjoy the crumbs. They were salivating at the prospect of the President-elect inviting them to the high table, before it gets crowd.
That, for them, is blinding enough to the bigger picture, of a nation crying for institutions that work for the common good.
Yes, institutions that rank the national interest above individual again, and sooth individual pain.
“I have talked to a lot of Kenyans in many parts of the country, including Nyanza, and they want to move on after the election and live peacefully with each other. Taking us back to another election so soon is not wise as Kenyans are fatigued.”
But Tuju did not declare his sample. He also did not say when he did opinion polls across the country, two days after the President-elect was named.
Even the one Tuju seeks to impress would not want his win to be clouded in doubt and suspicion.
This is why he has welcomed the petition at the Supreme Court.
Tuju, like some politicians from Lower Eastern, are aware the early bird catches the worm. But they probably do not know the worm of impunity could infest the early arrivals.
Some politicians from Bungoma and Homa Bay counties have also joined the loyalty fray, pleading with the President-elect to remember them when the pumpkin and the knife are ready.
They would be happy with crumbs. The jostling for presidential attention reminds of the parable of the rich man and the poor soul, pleading with the largesse-holder from under the table.
With so much lobbying for positions in the next government, one cannot blame moths for loving the lamp even at a cost to their own lives.
Strategy has integrity if it is tempered with reason. Or should it be said reason is nothing — follow your survival instincts?
The writer is The Standard’s Managing Editor Quality and Production.
kendo@standardmedia.co.ke
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