Politics is all about politicians' interest and not public interest

President William Ruto accused MPs of taking bribes to pass or kill Bills. [File, Standard] 

The one issue I have always had with the phrase ‘politics is about interest' is the glaring omission of its qualifier: Whose interest? For most politicians, that interest, rarely refers to the people they pledge to serve. That interest, more often than not, means their self-preservation, comfort and convenience.

Last week’s uproar in Parliament following the President’s claim that MPs take bribes to pass or kill Bills exposed a truth Kenyans have always known: Our legislators do not work for the people they represent. Unless it promises to protect their power and privileges, they do not/will not give a thought to it.