Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
The typical politician is a donkey. Gratitude is alien to them. Waswahili say, 'Asante ya punda ni mateke'. So it is also for politicians who have enjoyed decades of patronage.
Gratitude is a slippery virtue for such politicians. They bite the hands that lifted them from the alleys of oblivion.
Senator Johnson Sakaja was President Uhuru Kenyatta's protégé. The bond lasted for as long as the President guaranteed Sakaja's ascent – from appointive chair of the President's defunct party, The National Alliance, to nominated MP and senator.
The President will leave office in 47 days. Spiting him, even without evidence, is fair game for political ingrates. Sakaja accused the President of cheering his disgrace. The politician is suspected to have forged a university degree certificate. The matter is still under investigation.
House Speaker Justin Muturi, who owes his rise to President Kenyatta's patronage, jumped out of presidential umbrage. Muturi has been Speaker for a decade, without fear of election in a multi-party House.
Muturi was assured of the position on the say-so of the President. Muturi has found a new patron, Deputy President William Ruto. The lame duck President is no longer useful.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, a long-time ally of the President, jumped out of State House patronage. Waiguru, the first Cabinet Secretary for Devolution under the Uhuru presidency, knows her former patron is out-going. She has found new umbrage near the DP. But she may be doubting the decision now that the Uhuru succession has taken a different trajectory.
The possibility of her 2017 election rival for the governor seat, Martha Karua, playing frontline role in the Uhuru succession, further complicates matters for her.
Former Majority leader Aden Duale, once torn between love for the President and the DP between 2013 and 2017, has deserted the President. He must be feeling disappointed after the collapse of the promise ‘Uhuru Kumi, Ruto Kumi'. The man is fighting for survival.
The season of ingratitude cuts across political coalitions. ODM chairman John Mbadi sat in the 'consensus' meeting that endorsed Gladys Wanga and Joseph Oyugi Magwanga as Homa Bay county governor party candidates.
Mbadi approved the decision, which he is now sabotaging. He is sulking because his name may have been struck off the list of possible ODM parliamentary nominees.
The party found out Mbadi may have leased out his campaign gear and 'pegs' to independent governor candidate Evans Kidero. In turn, Kidero, a former one-term Nairobi governor, will 'hand over' Homa Bay county to Mbadi in 2027.
Governor Wycliffe Oparanya is Treasury Cabinet Secretary-designate if Azimio la Umoja candidate Raila Odinga wins. Mbadi was eyeing this position after dropping out of the governor race.
Raila Odinga, ODM leader, has been Mbadi's patron for 15 years. Each time Mbadi rode to Parliament on direct party nomination. Raila also appointed Mbadi an assistant minister during the 2008-2013 grand coalition government. He is also Minority leader, courtesy of Raila's patronage.
Kidero benefitted from direct party nominations in 2013 and 2017. He lost the seat to Mike Sonko of Jubilee. Kidero took an independent ticket after the party nominated Wanga. Kidero was advocating consensus that favoured Wanga. The former governor spurned the consensus meeting.
No one who achieves success, no matter how modest, especially in elective politics, does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge patronage with gratitude. Not so for these politicians.
When you see a tortoise perched atop a tree, know that someone placed it there. The hooded animal has no capacity to climb a tree. American author Melody Beattie, says, "Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
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