The forthcoming parliamentary by-election contest in Ol Kalou might strike a stranger as a routine affair between two candidates representing two political parties, with both appearing to be anywhere near equal in weight. The truth, however, is that many Ol Kalou residents are well aware that one of the candidates is a reckless drunk, unable to stay away from alcohol no matter what.
But first things first…
The late Hon. Kiaraho left behind a legacy of steady leadership that distinguished him as a man of genuine substance. That is why the people of Ol Kalou are increasingly jittery about allowing a known alcohol abuser, whose main (and, as it may seem, ONLY) obsession in life is the next round of kanywaji, to replace an illustrious political leader whose track record speaks for itself.
Those who know Mr Kanyuaji Go-Thou better openly say that his commitment to remaining drunk precedes him. The misgivings of the Ol Kalou community about Mr Kanyuaji are widely known. He was a public disaster as a Member of the County Assembly in Nyandarua. Many who know him well still talk about how eventless the fellow’s tenure as MCA was.
Upon close scrutiny, Mr Kanyuaji is a fellow whose formal credentials appear satisfactory on the surface, but whose practical, real-life existence paints a troubling picture. This man of the bottle claims possession of a university qualification in Agricultural Economics, yes, but his conduct and demeanour suggest otherwise. His love of addictive stimulants has stolen the thunder from his college achievements. And what a pity!
Mr Kanyuaji’s electoral track record reveals three attempts at public office, with only a single success at the most modest level of political representation. Such a pattern hardly inspires any confidence at all.
The truly alarming aspect of Mr Kanyuaji’s candidacy, however, lies in the plain truth that he cannot function effectively without constant external support. Remove the guiding hands of his minders and handlers—the CarMurders and MEDHUselahs of this world—and one is left with a grown man reduced to a state of complete awkwardness.
The late Hon. Kiaraho commanded every room he entered through sheer force of character and clarity of purpose. His successor must match that standard, if not exceed it.
Mr Kanyuaji’s tenure as a Protocol Officer in the former Deputy President’s office gets frequent mention, but not once in a positive light.
What Ol Kalou desperately needs is a representative capable of independent thought and coherent expression, not an MP as high as a kite 24/7. The people of Ol Kalou deserve a leader who stands on his own two feet, not one who requires constant carrying along by handlers who will inevitably pull the strings from behind the scenes.
Ol Kalou deserves someone who can walk unaided, not an intoxicated piece of human luggage.