Why Central Kenya leaders have mellowed

Member of Parliament for Mukurweini Kabando wa Kabando recently led colleagues in the “Can’t pay! Won’t pay!” chant protesting Government’s decision to make payments for Anglo Leasing-related deals. The Treasury, nonetheless, paid up and it is unclear now where Kabando stands on this matter.

Efforts to get the former minister’s view were fruitless after he failed to respond to our phone calls and text messages. This matter may be a hot potato for many to handle in Central Kenya, including the vocal MP and former University of Nairobi student leader, particularly after President Uhuru Kenyatta personally gave the nod for Anglo Leasing pay outs.

The latest development only helps to define the changing dynamics of Central Kenya politics, following “the return of the presidency” to the region in 2002 through President Kibaki and now President  Uhuru. From the tough-talking firebrand politicians, who stood up against the establishment, in the 1970s through to the 1990s, the fire in the Central Kenya politicians is ebbing away.

Getting out

From the era of the fearless Josiah Mwangi Kariuki or JM as he was famously known, Mark Mwithaga, Kihika Kimani, Koigi wa Wamwere, Njehu Gatabaki, Paul Muite, David Mwenje, George Nyanja and Martha Karua, among others, a new crop of leaders is emerging. Kikuyu MP, Kimani Ichungwa, Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika) and Kigumo’s Jamleck Kamau lead the new crop of leaders whose primary goal, according to critics, is to defend the Office of the President “at whatever cost”.

During a recent function in Kikuyu, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale singled out Ichungwa as one of the most dependable MPs in Parliament, “who defends the Government and attends crucial political functions across the country”.

The first-term MP recently said he would defend the President at any cost, saying since he took over from Lewis Nguyai, he had been traversing the country to defend the Government. “I’m a national leader and I have been defending the Government and I will continue doing so without fear,” he claimed.

Those unable to play to the new tune in the region have been left as political casualties, the latest strong leaders being the strong-willed Martha Karua, who vied for presidency last year, Koigi wa Wamwere, former Water assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri and others who may be getting out of step. Koigi describes the development as the “modern day political disease” in this part of the world, which is prevalent in Central Kenya, only because the last two presidents hail from the region. Koigi points out that the same would be true of Nyanza region if, for instance, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had been elected President either in 2007 or 2013.

“The running theme of all these is to defend the king. But the only time you can stage rebellion is if the king threatens the very survival of the kingdom. Even then, it will be to save the King,” observes Koigi.

Kenyatta era

Politicians in the region became particularly vibrant during the years of Jomo Kenyatta’s rule and during the quarter century rule of Daniel arap Moi. Before Kenyatta’s demise in 1978, Central Kenya politicians led by Kihika Kimani and Njenga Karume, kicked off the change-the-constitution campaign to stop Moi, then Vice President, from automatically replacing Kenyatta as President.

But even during Kenyatta’s reign, some like JM, openly differed with the President over a host of issues. The militancy of MPs from Central Kenya heightened even further after Kenyatta’s death and Moi’s assumption of power as Kenya’s second President.

The fire went down only in 2002 after Moi exited from power and handed over the baton to Kibaki. Some like Koigi, who had been overseas in political self-exile for decades returned home to participate in the elections and support the first Kibaki Narc Administration.        

Koigi won the Subukia Parliamentary seat and was even appointed Information assistant minister. But his political honeymoon soon fizzled out when he refused to play political ball, and he lost his seat in 2007.

“Our national politics have become extremely ethnicised as it is no longer feasible to push the national agenda. What works now is the ‘we versus them’ ideology – the notion that good leaders can only come from within us,” says Koigi.

Fearless criticism

Looking back, George Nyanja, who was Limuru MP between 1997 and 2002 on a Raila allied-National Development Party recalls that he earned the title “General Kaiyaba” because of his strong and fearless criticism of the Moi Government against oppression of the people of Central Kenya, especially the youth. But with President Uhuru, a scion of the region and son of Kenya’s first President, now in charge, many politicians have been wrong-footed. Focus has shifted to defending the President and grassroots leaders think MPs have not been loud enough in defending the presidency against attacks from the Opposition. Says Nelson Munga, Ndeiya Ward representative in Limuru: “I am disturbed that when sensational statements are made against our President by politicians from CORD, no MP from his home turf comes to his defence.” 

Munga claims local legislators usually take a wait-and-see attitude and only echo what their colleagues in Jubilee from other regions have said.

“Have you ever heard them agitate for something national? They only say what other MPs say. But I do not blame them but the electorate for picking them even when there were better choices,” says Nyanja.

Revered Ezbon Ngaruiya, the Chairman of Kenya Anglican Men Association in Mount Kenya region concurs that Central Kenya lacks strong politicians “of the caliber of (former Cabinet minister and Kanu Secretary General) Joseph ‘JJ’ Kamotho”.

“Whenever someone made remarks against former President Daniel Moi, Kamotho would immediately launch scathing attacks, which would make impact,” said the cleric.

In Kiambu County, Githunguri MP Peter Baiya was the only legislator re-elected to the august House. But despite being a second-time MP, he has maintained a low profile. The MP, however, dismisses his critics, maintaining all is well.

Koigi is hopeful that the dust will soon settle down: “There are moments when visionary politicians take a backseat and allow mainstream backward leaders to have their way and come back, physically or ideologically, much later, through like-minded younger politicians.”