Skip to content
Government and Policy

Dancing with Demons: A Lecture On The Folly Of Politician Worship That Kenyans Are So Good At

BY Steve Biko Wafula · October 3, 2024 02:10 pm

Dear Kenyans, are you still dancing in the fire, believing the same demons that have devoured your dreams will somehow bless your tomorrow? This plague of politician idolization, where the unworthy are exalted and treated as saviors, is akin to kneeling before a thief and asking him to protect your treasures. You worship, you clap, and you cheer, but every cheer is a clap for your burial.

Look around, and what do you see? A nation crippled by the weight of corruption, yet you praise those who have shackled you. Ancient wisdom from the Kamba tells us, When you chase a lion into a cave, do not be surprised when you get eaten. Your leaders are that lion, and you have foolishly driven yourselves into their jaws.

How long will you delude yourselves, thinking the ones who steal your wealth will somehow rebuild your roads? Can a bird in a cage fly to freedom? You have caged your aspirations by idolizing leaders who see you as nothing more than a means to fatten their wallets.

The Kikuyu say The goat that sleeps among wolves will never see the morning. You are that goat, blind to the fangs of the wolves you have elected. And yet, you continue to sleep, singing lullabies of praise to the very wolves tearing apart your future.

What foolishness grips a people who worship the same hands that rob them? You are like the farmer who waters his crops with poison, and then wonders why the harvest is rotten. These politicians, the very ones you adore, are the poison that seeps into every crevice of your society, destroying health, education, and the dignity of your labor.

The lazy cow drinks from a dirty puddle, says a wise African proverb. How much filth are you willing to swallow, Kenyans? The filth of nepotism, tribalism, and endless scandals flows freely, yet you drink deeply, cheering them on with blind devotion.

Read Also: Of Hyenas and Eagles: The Tragic Dichotomy Of Democracy In Kenya And Rwanda

And what has this blind allegiance brought you? Hunger, unemployment, and a healthcare system that could not save a goat, let alone a child. Yet, you still stand in rallies, eyes glimmering with hope, chanting their names as though they will deliver you from the very suffering they have created.

The Maasai tell us, that He who thinks he is leading and has no one following him is only taking a walk. Yet you follow blindly, not even questioning where you are being led. Perhaps it’s time to realize that the destination they have in mind for you is the slaughterhouse.

Even a chicken knows when to stop running in circles,  goes another ancient proverb. But here you are, year after year, running in circles around the same politicians, believing their lies with each election cycle, only to end up in the same pit of despair.

Look at your children, Kenyans. They are inheriting nothing but broken dreams, crumbling schools, and the burden of your political idolatry. Your leaders’ children? They study in pristine schools abroad, and dine on gold-plated plates, while your child cannot even afford lunch.

The Swahili say A fool and his money are soon parted. But you, Kenyans, are parting with more than money; you are parting with your future, your dignity, and your very identity as a free people. How much longer will you let these thieves strip you bare?

Read Also: Kenya’s Digital Democracy at Risk: Government Urged To Uphold Constitutional Freedoms Amid #RejectFinanceBill2024 Protests

Why do you worship men who cannot fix the roads you drive on, the hospitals you die in, or the schools that crumble around you? The rain does not recognize the one who praises it; it falls on everyone. Your praise for these politicians does nothing to save you from the floods of misery they unleash.

And what of your dreams? The man who sleeps on the floor cannot fall from his bed. Yet you, Kenyans, have fallen so low in your esteem that you believe you must sleep on the floor of servitude, forever bowing to these thieves and charlatans.

You must wake up, Kenyans! The hunter in pursuit of an elephant does not stop to throw stones at birds. But here you are, throwing stones at each other while the elephant—your corrupt leaders—tramples over everything in sight. Wake up and see the elephant in the room!

Even the sharpest knife cannot cut its handle. The politicians you adore will never harm themselves for your benefit. They protect their interests while you bleed from the wounds of their corruption.

Have you forgotten the weight of your vote, Kenyans? The one who spits in the air will have it fall on his face.  You have spat on your dignity by idolizing men and women who could not care less about your suffering. The mess you are in is of your own making.

Let me tell you, The one who eats his food in the dark does not know if it is rotten. These politicians feed you lies in the dark, but you swallow them whole, never once questioning the rotten stench of their promises.

How many scandals must you endure, Kenyans, before you realize you have been sold to the highest bidder? The fish that knows nothing about water is the first to be caught. You have been swimming in the waters of deceit for so long that you no longer see the traps laid before you.

Read Also: Kenya’s Transactional Democracy Breeds Modern Slavery And Colonialism

Do you believe that these men and women care for you? The hyena laughs while it sharpens its teeth. They laugh in your face, and behind your back, they sharpen the tools of their greed, ready to strip you of whatever little remains of your dignity.

You have become like the man who holds a burning coal, thinking it will warm him. The fool who laughs at the crocodile should not expect to escape the river. You laugh at the misery of others, thinking your politician will spare you. But the river of suffering will engulf you, too.

When the bird builds its nest too low, the snake will find it. Kenyans, you have built your hopes too low. You have placed them in the hands of men and women whose only ambition is to steal, and now the snake of corruption has slithered in to devour you.

The tree that refuses to bend will break. And yet, you have refused to bend to the truth, choosing instead to break under the weight of lies and deceit. How much longer can you endure before you are broken beyond repair?

The politicians you worship are like the termite that eats from within. By the time you see the damage, it’s too late. You may not see it now, but these men and women are hollowing out the very foundations of your nation.

Let us not forget that the monkey knows the tree it climbs. These politicians know exactly what they are doing. They climb the trees of your ignorance and complacency, feeding on the fruits of your labor, while you cheer them on from below.

Read Also: Why Democracy Struggles In Africa: Examining Weak Institutions, Corruption, And Lack of Political Will

And what do you gain from all this worship? Nothing but misery and despair. The cow that does not know how to bellow will never find its calf. You must learn to raise your voice, to demand better, or you will lose everything.

Kenyans, it is time to stop dancing with demons. He who eats with the devil should use a long spoon. You have been sitting at the table with the devil for too long, eating from the same bowl, and now you are poisoned by the lies you’ve swallowed.

The chicken that scratches too deeply will find the serpent. You have scratched at the surface of your politicians’ promises, but now you must dig deeper and see the serpent lurking beneath. Do not wait until it strikes.

It is said, A fool at forty is a fool forever. Kenyans, you have been fooled for too long. How many more years will you spend worshipping these men and women, believing in their empty promises, before you realize you have been taken for fools?

The vulture follows the sick animal. These politicians follow you because they know you are weak, divided, and blind to their true nature. They circle above, waiting for the moment you collapse so they can feast on what remains.

Your idols, your politicians, they do not care for you. When the snake is in the house, one need not discuss the matter at length.  It is clear: the snake is in the house, and yet you continue to debate its intentions as if it is anything other than deadly.

The day the monkey is destined to die, all trees become slippery. Your leaders will slip away, untouched, when the weight of their corruption finally crushes you. Do not wait for that day. It is time to rise, to throw off the shackles of your own making, and reclaim what is rightfully yours—before the last tree slips from your grasp.

Read Also: The Dark Side Of Democracy: Why Democratic Systems Fail To Produce Good Leaders

Steve Biko is the CEO OF Soko Directory and the founder of Hidalgo Group of Companies. Steve is currently developing his career in law, finance, entrepreneurship and digital consultancy; and has been implementing consultancy assignments for client organizations comprising of trainings besides capacity building in entrepreneurial matters. He can be reached on: +254 20 510 1124 or Email: info@sokodirectory.com

Trending Stories
Related Articles
Explore Soko Directory
Soko Directory Archives