"Revolution is like Saturn, it devours its own children," Georg Büchner (1813–1837), a German dramatist and revolutionary wrote in his play 'Danton’s Death'.
In saying so, Büchner was simply referring to the fast and rapid annihilation of a succession of the three main leaders of the French Revolution (1789).
Although this concept is just too big to be applied to the gubernatorial victory of Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, it helps to explain and give a sense of the then so-called 'Kiambu Ballot Revolution' and its aftermath.
But why compare Waititu's 2017 electoral victory with such a dramatic and huge event like the French Revolution? Isn't it like comparing sleep and death?
Well, we must all agree that Waititu's first victory during the Jubilee primaries against the then Governor William Kabogo, was sudden and a shocker to almost everyone within Kiambu and beyond.
These are just but a few of the many traits of revolutions world over. In the run-up to the 2017 general election, almost all Kiambu leaders united under one umbrella christened 'United for Kiambu' whose main and immediate aim was to dislodge Kabogo.
Four gubernatorial hopefuls stepped down in quick succession and rallied behind Waititu who was considered Kabogo's main challenger.
The four who included the current Deputy Governor James Nyoro, David Ngari alias Gakuyo, Aquiline Njoki and John Mugwe became the de facto leaders (alongside Waititu) of the lobby group that was supposed to deliver the Kiambu Ballot Revolution. And they did it.
However, that was the end of the Kiambu Ballot Revolution as immediately Waititu was sworn into office, he turned against the four and disregarded a pre-election pact they had inked together which saw them step down in his support.
Today, the Kiambu Ballot Revolution has 'devoured' all of its children save for Waititu who is, however, facing several administrative and political issues that continue to pop up each day.
Let's expound the point making reference to the political pact the five had and which seems to have sired the pathetic aftermath of the five 'revolutionaries'.
The pact had Nyoro as Waititu's running mate. However, Nyoro fell out with Waititu immediately after they were sworn into office accusing the latter of sidelining him in major county decisions. Waititu on the other hand even accused Nyoro of 'behaving' like he is the county governor during a live radio interview.
Njoki, on the other hand, was to head the trade and legal affairs docket. However, this never happened as she was appointed a member of the County Public Service Board. Even her bid to be elected Kiambu County Assembly Speaker was thwarted as Waititu favoured former Juja MP Stephen Ndichu.
Mugwe, a professional engineer, who had been appointed to the roads and infrastructure docket, as the pact had stipulated, has since been sacked from the docket and is contesting his 'unfair' dismissal in court.
Finally, the pact had stated that Gakuyo was to be the chief minister in charge of all county executive committee members as well as the head of county lands department. This was, nevertheless, trashed and Gakuyo was appointed the governor's advisor on economic affairs.
This 'revolutionary's' fortunes sank even further when an inquiry report recently indicated that he had allegedly swindled members of the public over Sh1 billion through his Ekeza Sacco.
#hivisasaoriginal