BY OKECH KENDO

Whoever said rats rush out in riotous glee when cats are away, did not have the Kangema, Kajiado North, and Ndhiwa constituency by-elections in mind. But the Kiswahili expression, paka akiondoka, panya hutawala, (when the cat is away, mice rule ) gives the rat rush metaphorical clarity.

The rush is showing in the many parliamentary aspirants in the three by-elections whose winners shall be MPs for three months only before they are recalled to renew their mandate. The losers will also have added the losing streak to their CVs.

The riotous race in the three by-elections also shows that there was something ‘cattish’ about the former MPs whose replacements are being sought, a few months to the dissolution of the Tenth Parliament. There is also something ‘rattish’ about the crowded race in Kangema, Kajiado North, and Ndhiwa.

The excitement can be explained: The late John Michuki was Kangema MP for 24 years. The late George Saitoti was also elected Kajiado North MP for 24 years. The late Orwa Ojode was Ndhiwa MP for 18 years.  He was first elected in 1994 in a by-election on a Ford-Kenya ticket.

Saitoti, Michuki, and Ojode reigned for 22 years on average. This means there was a generation of stunted ambitions in these constituencies. The jam was strenuous because Michuki and Saitoti were powerful Establishment ministers.

In Kajiado North, former MP Philip Odupoy and John Keen had to be evicted or accommodated in other ways, to give room for the late Saitoti. Saitoti was Minister for Finance, Vice-President, Education, and Internal Security at various times over the 29 years. He was first nominated to Parliament in 1983, when he entered the Kanu system on the fast lane.

Michuki also occupied powerful ministries over the time he reigned in Kangema. The three also held the Internal Security docket, where they delivered with aplomb.

Ojode was also an Assistant Minister for Internal Security. He executed ministerial functions, with the moniker Sirkal to emphasise his clout.

With regular police, Administration Police, General Service Unit, Criminal Investigations Department, and National Security Intelligence Service responding to their call, the three were Government insiders.

Assistant chiefs, chiefs, DOs, DCs and PCs were in their loop. The three did not have to belabour their power. They had deep links down to the grassroots that made them institutions in their constituencies.

It needed rivals with guts to challenge their clout. They were unassailable because they were also development conscious.

The rat rush to succeed them is passionate, even though whoever sits on the stool will keep it only for three of the constitutional 60 months or five years.

Whoever invests millions of shillings now in the Kangema, Kajiado North, and Ndhiwa by-elections will also spend even more when the Tenth Parliament is dissolved on January 14. The aspirants could dance themselves lame before the General Election on March 4.

Thirty-three people want to sit on the late Ojode’s stool in Ndhiwa for three months. But the queue is still growing, with assorted parliamentary aspirants, who want to fast track suppressed ambitions.

There is equal passion for the stool in Kajiado North. Moses ole Sakuda, Solomon Kinyanjui, Francis Gitau Parsimei, Anthony Keen, Rhonest ole Ntayia, Salaon ole Kashorda, Peter ole Mositet, Joseph Manje, Philip Wuantai, Hamilton Parseina, and Joseph ole Simel want the Saitoti stool.

The next lot

In Ndhiwa, Hamilton Orata, former finance manager, Kenya Pipeline, Jeremiah Owiti, Daniel Nyamai, Monica Amolo, David Ojwang’, former managing director Kenya Shipping line, Ogutu Kalee, former MP Tom Obondo, Martin Owino, Beatrice Ogola, former director Kenya Maritime Authority, Manus Kideo, Neto Oyugi, a human rights activist, Duncan Osodo, a retired teacher, Ted Odero, Lawrence Lore, Charles Kanyangi, advocate, Denis Orero, freshly minted from Britain, Peter Kojwang’, Mireje Onyando, former employee of the NSIS, Mary Ojode, Nicholas Agwanda, among others, also want to be MP for 90 days.

Mary Ojode, the former MP’s widow, has also declared interest to complete the short lap for her late husband. The eloquent lady says she has a better understanding of projects Ojode would have wanted completed during the Tenth Parliament.

The Kangema field is also crowded, with Muturi Kigano, Sam Gatitu, Kimani Mugo, Titus Ngahu, Duncan Githiga, Samson Kaguma, Andrew Kirgau, Simon Mwangi, John Gathogo, Njuguna Mwangi, Anne Kirima, and others, to succeed Michuki.

Sixty months of solid pay for solid service seems reasonable for an aspirant whose motivation is the paycheck. But investing millions of shillings in a campaign to work for three months does not make economic or service sense. There is no development promise that can be effectively delivered in 90 days. Conning voters that way may not work, when it takes fresh MPs several months to make their maiden speeches.

The rat rush in Kajiado North, Kangema, and Ndhiwa can be blamed on the Ninth and the Tenth Parliament. These two parliaments created the impression the House is a ticket to easy cash. This is deceptive when MP’s expenditure is considered.

In private, some MPs confess they have financial constraints, but hang on in there for the image. Some are heartbroken because they spend more than they earn. Worse, the next lot of MPs shall pay tax on their income, and won’t have power to increase their pay, as previous parliaments did.

The writer is The Standard’s Managing Editor Quality and Production.

kendo@standardmedia.co.ke