Tell-all tales tell us nothing we didn’t already know

The Miguna Miguna book saga says many things about the man and his character, but above all, it reveals a lot about Kenyans in general. Especially those who have chosen to live abroad.

I have all respect for people’s choices in life. I wish nothing but the best for those who choose to live in the West. What I do not agree with is when someone in the diaspora imagines that they are automatically better off than those “left behind” in Kenya.

Miguna, I must say, suffers from this “living abroad” syndrome. He knows what is best for Kenyans in Kenya. But truth be told, Kenyans in the diaspora are no better than us when it comes to judging and deciding who is a good leader.

I have heard and read many opinions from Kenyans in the diaspora on how Kenyans in Kenya are letting down the country by electing “bad” leaders.

Well, Kenyan politicians know this, too, and this is why they travel abroad to woo Kenyans for moral, political and financial support during electioneering. That is how Miguna got onto the Raila Odinga bandwagon.

He was seduced by the same sweet talk that has been used on Kenyan voters year in, year out. He bought it hook, line and sinker, packed up and shipped back home and into the PM’s inner circle.

Typically Kenyan

Miguna got here, allegedly saw all sorts of ills in the PM’s office, but typically Kenyan, chose not to say anything. Despite having lived in a society where he was apparently exposed to all the “right” ways of doing things, he kept mum about the ills in the PM’s office for two years until the day he was kicked to the kerb.

Then he decided to sing like a canary about how “bad” a leader his employer is. If what Miguna says is true, then it’s not new. The PM has enough political adversaries and a multitude of voters who are not afraid to say they would never vote for him for a number of reasons. Real and imagined. Kenyans are not so stupid after all.

It is, therefore, unfortunate that despite his level of education and world exposure, it took Miguna this long to realise Kenya is one big web of political deceit, double-faced personalities, rhetoric and perpetual lip service.

And he was being honest by spilling the beans after he lost his position, only to come out worse than an ordinary Kenyan by imagining that by writing his tell-all book, there will be a seismic shift in the political landscape.

Some things are best said in low tones as they travel faster and wider and linger longer rather than shouted from the rooftops where they are deemed noise and get lost in the howling wind.

sbakata@ke.nationmedia.com