Louis Farrakhan, the African-American religious leader of the Nation of Islam, and a consistent voice of black dignity, makes a profound statement that would be most apt for Kenya’s political moment.
“When you see great men fall, don’t laugh. LEARN! Learn! Because you are on your way up and the things that tempted people to fall you and I are not free from (that
temptation) nor from the weakness that would cause us to stumble and fall”.
This lesson couldn’t be timelier, especially as we all witness Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s woes, especially as he faces the guillotine. Regardless of whether you’re for or against him, there is much learning in his case.
Two years ago, Rigathi embarrassed former President Kenyatta at the swearing-in ceremony, berating him right in front of Uhuru’s colleagues - presidents who had served with him honourably as peers until that swearing-in moment. The newly sworn-in Mr Gachagua waxed lyrical, totally abandoning the principle that you don’t kick a man already down.
It was an unnecessary attack and affront on a man who had obeyed the popular will, the judiciary, and handed over
power at our most complex political time.
That’s not all. Mr Gachagua would later be at the forefront of what seemed to have been a coordinated attack on former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Northlands farm, where goons raided and stole hundreds of the President’s dorper sheep and
destroyed property. This was quickly followed by the withdrawal of the security detail assigned to the former President’s mother, Mama Ngina, who in her own right as former First Lady had a right to security. This was particularly heartbreaking. Why would anyone mistreat an old lady and embarrass her just because they want to get to her son? Why not face the man directly and spare his ageing mother?
I have not even reminded you how Deputy President Gachagua humiliated former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the funeral of Mau Mau hero Brigadier Kiboko in Nyandarua, telling him, ‘pigeni kelele kwa maandamano, jioni mrudi nyumbani.’ In that meeting, he even told Mr Odinga, ‘Your experience in Kamiti may be useful’. For twenty minutes, he abused the former Premier, totally defying his status as a senior citizen.
Fast forward, the Deputy President today finds himself marooned and facing what he believes is an unfair attack on him. To save his skin, he has had to bandy the name of Mr Kenyatta here and there, citing Kenyatta as the leader of the mountain and forgetting in his next sentence and declaring himself the leader of the mountain. It shows that there may be no belief in the words he himself says.
Then the DP told his countrymen that he had apologized to the former President, knowing only too well that no one can confirm that he indeed apologized to Mr Kenyatta, the man he long served as a Personal Secretary. In that position, Mr Kenyatta had effectively entrusted Mr Gachagua with personal secrets and sent him on all manner of errands, including sensitive and personal ones.
No one can ask Uhuru or Mama Ngina whether or not Rigathi has apologized to them for all the things he said and did, including telling them not to kill him the way their patriarch Mzee Jomo Kenyatta killed other politicians. What I know is that if that’s what it takes for his survival at this moment, Rigathi is likely to do it. The question is whether such an apology would be out of genuine remorse or a mere survival gimmick. I am no judge. After all, I believe in giving people chances and forgiving them.
Listen, I know that the journey of friendship has instances of small and gross disagreements. However, at the very least, learn that when you find yourself up against someone who has trusted you before, find the place of decency in your divergence.
I have been here long enough to know that it all comes around somehow. Learn that your words and actions catch up eventually. Power and crowds are particularly notorious for making people say the silliest things and behave in the most foolish ways without any sense of measuredness. But when the two leave, tough speakers tend to seek caves to hide in.
Please LEARN! Learn from this season in our politics that things change. And they do so viscously and swiftly sometimes. Support whomever you choose, do your politics whichever way you please, but remain decent when handling even your worst ‘enemy’. It is a lesson that even the young ones rising up the leadership ladder and tasked with nastiness on both sides of the political divide must take home. That power is transient and our worst enemies today will be our saviors tomorrow. Broad-based rings a bell?
And to all those who seek and get power and think they are invincible, learn! Kenya’s Total Man left the stage, the all-powerful Hezekiah Oyugi left the stage. Elsewhere, Mussolini left the stage, Nigeria’s strongman Sani Abacha left the stage, Iddi Amin left the stage and Adolf Hitler left the stage.
However, powerful one may be today, learn that an exit awaits. Will you be able to look back with pride when you leave? Or will your exit be punctuated by cheers of mockery from your subjects? Will your children fit in society proudly or will you take off with them to another country and seek asylum never to return? Please learn!
While learning oh powerful friends of today, go back to the words of Mahatma Gandhi. I find them quite sobering. Learn from him when he says; “There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but IN THE END, they ALWAYS FALL - think of it, always.”
Osiany, HSC is a former CAS in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment
