"What did I say?"

“What did I say?”

Some times in the early days of 2003, immediately after the first democratic (free and fair) elections in Kenya, when the opposition finally won a General election, Dr. Kilemi Mwiria – the then newly-MP elect for Tigania West Constituency was overheard lamenting how unfortunate events had turned out for him, that President Moi was exiting State House (read power) just when he (Dr. Mwiria) was getting in parliament. The latter would have more than wanted to prove himself to the former and demonstrate to him how democracy and good leadership works. It was easily understandable since Moi’s leadership had led Dr. Mwiria to flee into exile in the early 90’s. And with the general feeling in the air after the opposition’s unity, Kibaki’s  landslide win and Moi’s much anticipated and long overdue departure, anyone could say anything. The freedom of speech could well be enjoyed without one having to look over the sleeve before uttering a word.

It was along these same lines that the newly appointed Justice and constitutional affairs minister (the Sount Imenti member of Parliament- Kiraitu Murungi) was heard giving some free unsolicited advice to the retiring president to the effect that he (Moi) should retreat to his rural Sacho village home, arm himself with a TV, perhaps a black and white ‘Greatwall’ to catch news on, and invest some time in rearing goats as he ‘learns how a country is run democratically’ . Mr. Murungi had also to run into exile under Moi’s rule. No wonder then these two Meru politicians had some itch to want to prove to Moi that they knew what they were doing and that they were right then as they were now. They had the last laugh so to say – (put another way). But it is not over yet – look at Mr. ‘Ki-right-toe’ going down the hill like a rock now!

Now that these two are now leaving the August House come 2012, or at least their declared interests reveal (Kilemi is going for the County governor while Kiraitu is vying for Senator;s seat in the same County of Meru), how many people will buy their lines – for better or for worse? Will we have people who will be lamenting now that these leaders are no longer in parliament, or are now Governor and Senator respectively (if at all they win)? Or do we on the contrary have people rejoicing and celebrating that Meru County has a competent governor in Dr. Mwiria and an able Senator in Mr. Murungi? Both of them do not, however, have to win or lose together. Each is on his own, at least for now- (and for the better part of their past as we happen to know it)- at least. What say you?

Martin Okariithi

@2012

Inorakia area iwiite induu ikarea kumenyeerwa no inuunkie area iwiite!