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MUTULA’S SUCCESESSION: THE MONGRELS AND THE POODLES




Kethi Kilonzo shocked many when she turned down a rather juicy offer to join the senate. The polls though were on her favour, the entry of her mother- stepmother -was too much to handle. Although the reason she gave is African, it is disturbing to think how irrelevant the people of Makueni really are to prevail upon one family to take upon leadership of the vast county while they tail along. 

Ever since senator Mutula Kilonzo died, debate started over who would succeed him. All eyes were directed at Kethi, who shot to fame during the presidential trial at the Supreme Court. She represented AFRICOG in a manner never seen before, which of course rekindled hope of the success of the case against Uhuru’s presidency. Anyway, the hopes were dwindled when the Supreme Court was turned into a crime scene with heavy police presence and a yellow crime scene tape surrounding it.

Away with crime scene tapes, question is, who killed the Makueni Senator and why? Is it justifiable to think that Kethi as young and virile as she is, she has the audacity to take on the vultures? And why, only weeks after her fame grew did her father die? The last question would then be, why Kethi of all the people? Why her? Leave her out and the question changes to, Why the late Mutula‘s family, why-oh-why?

It clearly shows a game of wits to try and cover the mystery surrounding the death of the late senator. By rewarding the family, we shall quickly have forgotten that he (Mutula Kilonzo) ever existed. And life shall return back to normal. I know chasing cases in Kenya, especially mysterious assassination is futile, but it is worth a try. I was arguing with a friend of mine about the Saitoti plane crash, and he, a strong believer of the power of money said, “Saitoti’s family will pursue the case to the end” but as sure as the morning and evening comes and goes, the Kalpanah Rawal report is slowly gathering dust.

Back to the people of Makueni, as I had said, the people of Makueni are either foolish or stupid. Does it mean that in the entire county, the Mutula’s are the only flowers you can put on the mantelpiece? It clearly inundates the historical Chief Kivoi of the traditional world. The more we say we are changing the more we remain the same.  In the words of Dr. Stockmann, a character of the book- An Enemy of the People (En folkfiende) the people of Makueni have shown the real difference between a well brought  up poodle and the ill brought  up mongrel. The Mutula’s, are the well brought up poodles  which if trained end up with finesse while the rest of makuenians are mongrels with little knowledge whence the rise of the mutula kingdom.

Skeptics will have it that, the fame around the mutula’s gives them a cut above the rest. They have a natural love the public glare and this places them as the only fish in the lake. Others will argue that, it is only natural that things should flow the way they are since, a leader stay close to a leader. But, just how many potential leaders does democracy trample on?  The statics here will be staggering.  

My advice to the Mutula’s therefore will be, stay away from politics as you can. Kethi, we need you to shed a light on the future of the judicial system in this country. You can make a good constitutional lawyer of this country. You can shed to light the truth as it is even if they turn a blin eye as they did. But tread on the path you have been on. 

And for the people of Makueni, I know what confusion came in when your senator died. It is only natural that you had not thought of a successor to the seat and hence natural for you to plant your hopes on Kethi Kilonzo. If the whole fraternity of mongrels in that county believes that it is Kethi you want, then you have not lost. This country is a democracy, it is not a monarchy, where naturally elders and  close family members sit down to choose who the preferable candidate should be. It is the right of the people to choose. And since you have that right to choose, do not throw it on the Mutula’s family to decide your fate by letting the conclave decide who to represent you from the family of Mutula, your acclamation alone has chosen Kethi, and Kethi it shall be if you choose to defend her. You have the voice because you have the vote, a few individuals can never steal your right to fair representation in the senate. Demand for what you need and get it because you deserve it.   


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