There is a popular saying that goes-- lie to me once, shame on you; lie to me twice, shame on me! There is no better audience for this than we, Kenyans. We are this gullible lot whom politicians take for a ride. In 2007, they used us to name call their opponents and each other. We poured vitriol on each other since we were supporting different factions. The politicians told us that our tribe A is powerful but it is being held back by tribe B. We forgot the good neighborliness that had bound us. The 13 elections were done and the same vitriol was poured though in smaller intensity. On realizing that we were not doing ourselves justice, we pledged to keep peace. However, like the proverbial warthog, we forgot all this and in 2017, here we are fighting each other physically, verbally and on social media. The cunning politician will not give a hoot to our hunger, security or health issues. No, he will only mind his kith and kin. To him, electorates are just that--electorates; once we elect him, we are useless. Musician turned politician, Jaguar in his popular song Kigeugeu pointed it out so well.
Mwanasiasa aliniomba kuraakiniahidi yote atatimizabaada ya miaka tano anarudi na kitambibila kutimiza..
Jaguar
Politicians ask for our vote promising that they will deliver everything that was in their manifesto. Five years after being in office, they come back to the mashinanis with their pot-bellies and repeat the same old manifestos--the only difference is that they come with a different political party outfit and may place a few commas here and there in their statements.
The truth is that we the electorates need each other. Let no one spoil the good relationship that exists between us. I need Njuguna to advise me on the best business venture to invest in. I need Otieno to sell me fresh fish from the lake. I need Wafula as my business partner. I need doctor Wambua to treat my sick child and since I am married to Lesuda ole Moipei, I cannot afford to have bad blood with her kinsmen.