Kenyan Politics; Loyalty and Betrayals.

Kenyan Politics; Loyalty and Betrayals.

While doing a routine Facebook skimming, I came across a post where South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro was captured in a photo with Deputy President Willian Ruto. In the post, Osoro was pledging absolute loyalty to the deputy president.

A better statement would be that Osoro was reassuring the DP of his loyalty given that he has been the DP’s ardent supporter through thick and thin for some time now. Within the same period, a few politicians have traded their allegiances.

Kisii politicians Omingo Magara and Anthony Kibagendi joined the pact of individuals who have ditched UDA. This week as well, while at the DCI headquarters, presidential hopeful Jimmy Wanjigi labeled Raila Odinga a Judas blaming him for the miseries befalling him.

Not only that, Kalonzo Musyoka gave a press release in which he articulated the conditions to be met by OKA principal Raila Odinga before they can make a coalition with Azimio La Umoja. In a keener look, one cannot miss the point that Kalonzo was pointing out a betrayal finger on his part by Raila Odinga yet one in which Kalonzo may be pushed to close one eye so that the alliance with OKA can take shape.

In all these stories, one wonders if there is anything like loyalty and betrayal in politics. A joke goes that these politicians will be the firewood in the hellfire largely because they can never be taken at their word. They change with the waves.

Given that politicians go around sniffing for opportunities that would be in their favour, the aspect of loyalty being expected of them becomes a tall order. It is akin to asking an angry lion to guard a gazelle till the owner comes back to take it.

Once the gazelle is taken back by the owner, where does that leave the lion? The lion is left hungry and because the lion could be privy to such an eventuality, then it becomes logical for it to enjoy the gazelle because the owner ought to have known that that risk existed nevertheless.

The point I am putting across is that the rising animosity that is beginning to gain traction among the politicians themselves should not be taken to heart by the electorate. These politicians can switch allegiances at will without consulting the voters in their best-known pretence.

It is upon us as the electorate to choose where and who to stand with at any point in time. This, however, should not be based on the fact that the politicians get anchored on what our wishes for them are. They can change and they always do.

When we become aware of this, the aspect of becoming violent against a fellow voter who supports an opponent becomes an act of irresponsibility. Even, we are never loyal to the politicians we support and more often than not change allegiances at will as well.

The politicians who go ranting about betrayal and loyalty have been in times past and will be betrayers even as they pride in their current loyalty. And those who are betrayers now can change at any time in the future and be loyal soldiers.

After all, some of those happenings are political schemes in their way. So, for me, I am just fastening my belt. Nothing is going to surprise me. It may end up surprising us that even the most trusted allies of some of these politicians will betray them and those they perceived as betrayers turn out to be the greatest supporters, we never expected them to be.

Sometimes circumstances push matters into a tight fix that needs sacrifices and personal tradeoffs. When we see them happening, let’s understand that that is politics. The saying goes, there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics. Neither should there be any even for the electorate.

Geoffrey Ndege

Geoffrey Ndege

Geoffrey Ndege is the Editor and topical contributor for the Daily Focus. He writes in the areas of Science, Manufacturing, Technology, Innovation, Governance, Management and International Emerging Issues. For featuring, promotions or support, reach out to us at info@dailyfocus.co.ke
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