Of Kenya’s politics and the parable of three lions

Storytelling in an African context is not just for entertainment but it also for educating children and helps pass important messages to society.

‘Once upon a time’, started the storyteller as he began to entertain his guests. But before I narrate the story as told by the storyteller, let me start with a prologue. In the animal kingdom, the lion is the most powerful animal.

The dominance of the lion is visible in those stories narrated to kids near the fireplace. The lion is referred to in the first person singular.

Therefore, these metaphors are used to illustrate a burning issue within the community by using an image or a likeness of a character mostly to avoid embarrassing any of the protagonists in a real-life situation.

The African folklore stories refer to the animals in the story in the singular form. For example, the lion is described as just the Lion not pride of lions.

The dominance of the lion, therefore, is a reference to the lion that represents strength, power, and courage. Lions are leaders and undertake their activities with certain levels of confidence and are always victorious.

It is like the main actor in a movie, where the main actor ends up becoming a winner. The stories from the African rangelands can be extrapolated onto the Kenyan political context.

If the traditional storytellers were to use allegories and metaphors to tell the story of the Kenyan political context, then the same allegories and metaphors will most probably apply.

Only this time, the storyteller must now acknowledge that the lion can either be challenged or simply use the plural form.

Political rangelands

The political context at the highest levels is mostly between individuals who have aura and strength that can only be equated to the Lion. Kenya today is once again at crossroads. The political contest is between lions. So as not to lose the significance of using metaphors and allegories, I will just refer to the “Lions” in numbers.

There are several lions working to earn their space in the political rangelands of Kenya. In the political in rangelands of Kenya animals, they have a constitution.

The Constitution allows other animals to elect their leaders. This arena is dominated by the lions and they are the only candidates. The other animals just elect the lions.

The storyteller continues: ‘There was Lion Number 1. He has done his term as per the rangeland constitution as the leader of all animals. This lion is supposed to go home but there are rumours he intends to extend his rule in collaboration with Lion Number 3.

Near the lake

Lion Number 2 aspires to take over from his boss. But the boss seems to agree to with Lion Number 3 on finding ways of forming a coalition to stop Lion Number 2 from assuming the leadership position.

The Lion Number 2 has been working frantically to prove he has what it takes to take over the leadership of the rangelands. The contest has been getting more exciting and bruising.

In the last year, Lion Number 2 has been daring Lion Number 3 to a contest. The first contest took place near the lake.

Here, all the animals in the rangelands came to witness. For Lion Number 3, this meant life and death because the location Lion Number 2 chose was his homestead which means he enjoys home ground advantage. This was potentially embarrassing.

The contest was really short and Lion Number 2 emerges victorious. Lion Number 3 having been humbled dares his nemesis to another duel. This time the venue was a neutral location. But once again, the cunning Lion Number 2 wins the duel.

The other members of the animal kingdom jeer at Lion Number 3 and declare that they will never be scared of him again.

Not one to be put down easily and assuage his bruised ego, a wounded Lion Number 3 decides to ask for another duel to reclaim back his stature. Lion Number 2 agrees.

This time, Lion Number 3 decides to hold the competition in his own homestead since he is sure his neighbours are going to cheer him and give him moral support. But the street smart Lion Number 2 pockets his competitor’s neighbours.

The plot thickens. At this point, the storyteller asks his guest whether they can predict the winner of this last duel. The significance is that whoever wins becomes the most respected and feared Lion.

Mr Guleid is the executive director of the Frontier Counties Development Council