Passing the Buck in Kenyan Politics (At Least They're the Best at Something)

In full view of public, over the weekend, Kenya’s top political leaders played a game of musical chairs with responsibility, deftly ducking the buck every chance they got and, when they couldn’t, expertly passing it on to the person next in line.

The occasion for this display of a new kind of political choreography was Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Thank-You party held at the Joseph Kangethe grounds in his Lang’ata constituency. Alongside him was a strong contigent of Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament.

The crowd came with a clear agenda and were determined to be heard, chanting “Unga!” (Flour!) loudly and defiantly every chance they got.

One by one, as Cabinet Ministers took the microphone they urged this nameless faceless entity called “the government” to do something about the soaring price of floor that is at the heart of Kenya’s local version of the global food crisis.

(Seriously, if rolling the eyes was an effective calorie-burning exercise, no Kenyan would be overweight.)

Every single one of them referred to this amorphous entity, “the government”: Raila Odinga, Prime Minister. Musalia Mudavadi, Deputy Prime Minister. Minister for Agriculture, William Ruto. Other ministers besides: Chris Obure ,Martha Karua, James Orengo, Fred Gumo, Joseph Nyagah Anyang’ Nyong’o. Every single one of them in government, all of them brazenly calling on “the government” to do something. All joined by the Kenneth Marende, the speaker of parliament whom Kenyans have yet to forgive for calling taxes as paid by MPs ‘philantrophy.’

Perhaps the climax of this display was the skillful tossing of the buck back and forth between Prime Minister Odinga and Minister for Agriculture, Ruto. First, Ruto takes the microphone and asks Raila, who chairs the sub-committee on Agriculture to ensure that the price of maize is brought down. Then the Prime Minister speaks in turn and declares that the issue lies in Ruto’s docket and he is the one who should do something about it.

Despite stiff competition, however, the “Passing the Buck” Award goes hands down to Anyang Nyong’o, minister for Health. He declared that he would lead Kenyans in peaceful demonstrations if “the government’” did not do something about the escalating food prices.

Kudos, by the way, to Kibera residents who let the leaders have it. Because of them, relief may be on the way.

Way. To. Go.