A DISSECTION OF SYCOPHANCY

THE CURIOUS CASE OF A KENYAN POLITICIAN

Desperate Politicians

Welcome to Kenyan politics: the process wherein the zombienisation of intelligent minds accrues. And you ask yourself: what really causes the paradigmatic shift, as from a sharp intellectual to a dancer to the tune of a political superior, more often than not, of less academic and social credentials? Very easy, my friends: sycophancy. That drink that quenches a politically thirsty mind. The food for fools. Sycophancy, that which makes man think of himself as deeply adorned, and yet is as naked as day. Stark raving madness: cheap power sourcing. I will address us to just a few of the zombies we have seen created. 

JJ Kamotho: Seasoned Sycophant

Remember JJ Kamotho? The monarch of the “Baba” frame... Well, with that hawkish mouth and bald head, the once political magnate perfected the art of sycophancy, and you would be excused to conclude that he was breathing under the mercy of Baba Moi. And he injected the DNA to new lieutenants. We know Francis Lotodo...you can name them! These old folk can be forgiven, as they were distinctively analogue. 

What is unforgivable is a youth, properly-so-called, doing exactly what wrong the previous breed of politicians committed. And this brings us to the dissection of neo-sycophants: the breed most impervious to reason.

Prof. Muigai

In 2011, President Mwai Kibaki unconstitutionally appointed Prof. Githu Muigai as Attorney General, Justice Aldina Visram as Chief Justice, and Kioko Kilukumi as Director of Public Prosecution. You cannot have missed how Uhuru Kenyatta banged the table, terming “unacceptable” the questioning of the President’s authority. Fast-forward....and anyone questioning a political kingpin is tagged a traitor. Miscreant indeed! So hard has it hit us, that it has been normalized. We support Luo-Nyanza MPs for bashing Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero for “not respecting Raila.” But we haven’t seen it all: do you see how URP Legislators defend Ruto? And how TNA guards the interests of Uhuru from "outsiders"? Ladies and gentlemen, we are now experiencing a rebirth of sycophancy. Only in the superlative form...

From Kalonzo Musyoka’s Eastern Province assault, to Raila Odinga’s Nyanza clout.... Look at Rift Valley sheepishly following Ruto, and Uhuru calling the shots in Central Province. We are experiencing  a germination of a trend, where a Kenyan politician will do all that it takes, including selling his mother, to survive politically. 

Murkomen: Omen

Case study: look at how Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen has metamorphosized - in the reverse gear. A once astute and intelligent tutor has acquired the dubious distinction of being parochial and inherently paranoid, and even reduced to a village dancer of Elgeyo-Marakwet. When Ruto whistles, Murkomen dances. When Ruto claps, Murkomen dances. Very hard. In his eye, the [Vice] Presidency does no wrong. Or rather, anything the Uhuruto axis does is legitimized, for as long as it is done by the combo. Even to the point of being lashed by fellow Legislators! How blind can a man get?

The President's Chief Clown

Look at the likeness with JJ Kamotho: a parrot, defending the Government with seething teeth and a drooling tongue, ready to devour anyone questioning the activities of the state. He would have no qualms singing a different tune tomorrow, if the situation suits him. Look at Kivutha Kibwana. You know his deeds in the past government. I won’t mention Joshua Kuttuny, the Uhuru’s Political Advisor (stop laughing) as he is inherently a foolish clown - a catastrophe to humanity. And many others.

What happened to integrity? When will intellectuals stand to guide the government, instead of being conformed therewith? Lawyers have been most disappointing, perhaps because we have a higher expectation from them. But we are sure that as the years go by, sycophants are mutating, to be like hard-core criminals, not disillusioned by criticism to their shifty acts. 

For once, let principle stand. Lastly, if you meet Murkomen, tell him Kuttuny is his equal intellectually. At least for now. And that is an insult to the Legal Profession!