By Oyunga Pala
It is rare that a political leader in our time says something worth remembering.
It has been decades since we heard something in the league of JM Karuiki’s insightful observation, “We do not want to create a nation of ten millionaires and ten million beggars,” which at the time was a rather bold swipe at the growth of the cult of personality during the Mzee Kenyatta regime.
When it comes to quotes attributed to our leaders, most would rather be forgotten. For the most part, we are accustomed to the foot in mouth goofs that serve as reminder of why politicians must not be taken literally.
Remember former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo’s infamous “Ukiona hao, weka taya (if you see them, lynch them)” one liner? Or William Ntimama’s “Lie low like an envelope” — a subtle but loaded warning to non-Maasais living in Maasai land during the advent of multiparty politics to toe the official line?
Amos Kimunya also made the cut with his absurd, “I would rather die than resign” not to mention Esther Murugi’s threat to strip if Uhuru Kenyatta’s case at International Criminal Court was confirmed for trial.
These are just a few of the more memorable one-liners delivered by our creative political class. It is all part of political speech craft and the essence of the art is to misdirect and get away with essentially saying nothing.
Phrases
If you read the papers keenly or pay close attention to news broadcasts, you run into familiar phrases because politicians will always devise new way to make little sense. As expected, following the tragic death of two prominent leaders, we had the Government use that famous line for the umpteenth time: We shall leave no stone unturned.
Whenever anyone alleges foul play or misappropriation of funds, the response is a commission of inquiry.
If my memory serves me correctly, the Government specialises in leaving stones intact. Despite the long list of commissions formed to probe into various issues of national concern, there are hardly ever any conclusive results made public.
One can be assured that when a politician orders ‘speedy investigations’, the last thing to expect is speed. In fact, at this rate, I would recommend that the Government forms a commission of inquiry to investigate the outcomes of all previous commissions’ of inquiry.
Another common phrase politicians like to use is, “the Government will foot the bills” and it happens moments after a national tragedy. It is important to note that politicians always die while serving the nation while ordinary citizens simply die as result of official negligence.
Thus, when the Government pledges to assist in covering funeral expenses, consider it nothing more than a roadside declaration meant to defer talk on the actual cause of a recurring problem.
So in the interest of national security and the good of the nation, the government responds to public concern by ensuring that our security agencies institute the necessary measures that guarantee the security of the citizens.
But before that is done, they have to form a committee, in consultation with the various stakeholders, who will take time to deliberate on the weighty issues of national importance.
Easily said, quickly forgotten.
Prof George Saitoti offered his country a nugget of thought when he said, “There come (sic) a time when the nation is more important than the individual.”
Would it be asking too much to plead with politicians to remember that?
