Duale erroneously believes that he speaks for Somalis

There’s a misbegotten view that the most senior politician of an ethnicity is the “leader” and “spokesperson” for that community. This is primeval — primitive and tribal — politics. Utterly Neanderthal. But it’s the “perceived” reality in Kenya. That’s why Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi — like other tribal barons — speaks of panel-beating Luyhas to vote as one in the next election. Like a herd of sheep — unthinking. Yet Mr Mudavadi wants to be president of all Kenyans. But this disease doesn’t afflict Mr Mudavadi alone. Majority Leader Aden Duale, the Garissa Town MP, is the king of ethnic eccentrics. Except — and this is breaking news — Mr Duale doesn’t speak for Somalis. He simply uses them to bloviate and advance himself.

Let me tell you why Mr Duale needs to put a cork in it. First, Mr Duale doesn’t appreciate politics of “use and dump.” Kenya has two types of politicians — the elite and the pedestrian. The elite come from well-heeled families that have ruled Kenya since Independence. Many were even in bed with the British colonialists. The pedestrian are self-made and hoi polloi — they were either adopted by the “godfathers” or scraped their way to the top. Mr Duale firmly belongs to the latter category. The problem is that he — and his ilk — often forget that they are expendable. But he and other pedestrians usually cries louder than the bereaved. He reminds me of the American “house negro.”