Defections Are Back: All The Fuss Is About Cash

Kenyans were naturally very excited in 1991 when the notorious section 2 (a) in the constitution was abolished returning Kenya into the fold of multi-party democracies of the world.

Sadly we all underestimated President Moi's determination and street-wise cunning to ensure that his will and old ways prevailed despite the changes.

One of the ways in which Moi achieved his objectives was through "buying" MPs and causing them to defect. They shamelessly paraded themselves and gave eloquent speeches that fooled nobody. They knew we knew and we of course knew that some dramatic changes had taken place in their bank accounts for them to abandon the popular opposition to re-join the then ruling party, KANU.

The latest from the Kenyan political front is that defections are back with a vengeance. During his current tour of the Coast province many Coast politicians have been warming up to the president and at least 6 have crossed over (defected) to the new Narc Kenya party. More are to follow. Those who have defected so far are Ali Wario, Boniface Mganga, Fahim Twaha Abdalla Ngozi and Abu Chiaba.

But probably the biggest catch will be the LDP vice chairman Mr Joe Khamisi who has admitted that he is under "intense pressure" to join Narc Kenya. He has already resigned his position in LDP. He has even been quoted as saying that he was consulting with his constituents as to the next course of action. In the old Kanu days when a politician uttered similar words we all knew that what they really meant was that they were consulting with their bank managers to confirm the arrival of the promised funds in their accounts so as to formally announce their defection.

In the Moi days, one politician (I forget his name) made the mistake of announcing their defection before confirming with their bank manager. They were still chasing their money when elections came and angry constituents voted them out.

My take is that cash defections will work even better this time round. We are living in very hard times and the lucrative salary and benefits that MPs currently receive only whets their appetite for more and many of those who will be defeated in the forthcoming elections will never recover financially in their lifetimes. When you earn more, the tendency is to spend more (especially when you have little or nothing to do with your time, since you don't attend parliament, or you make only technical appearances). The high-spending habits are impossible to break even when that income is suddenly taken away from you.

Spending habits also mean that many parliamentarians have not been able to set aside a "war chest" for the elections. We have seen how leading presidential candidates have been running around in Western capitals seeking to raise cash for their presidential bids.

Had they set aside only half their salaries during their 5 year terms, they would have been able to go into the campaigns with a staggering Kshs 15.3 million. This I have calculated with a 10 per cent interest per annum (treasury bills offer a much higher yield) and I stopped at the end of year 4 assuming a snap election or assuming that income during the one year going into the polls would be under intense pressure. I assumed that the MP would set aside a mere Kshs 250,000 from their salary every month.

So most MPs at the moment need hefty amounts of cash, and they need it badly. This is a very sensitive point and nobody has dared suggest so far that the defecting MPs are receiving cash. And neither is there any evidence that they are. But as an intelligent Kenyan I urge you to figure out for yourself why an MP would opt to join the most blundering crisis-ridden administration we have ever had in Kenya's history. I will make it even easier by offering the multiple choices below.

a) Patriotic need to help unite Kenyans in a political party founded by non-tribalists with impeccable no-corruption and selfless record on the desire to fight tribalism in Kenya.

b) Because the current administration has achieved an unprecedented economic miracle in Kenya creating 1 million jobs every month.

c) Out of pity for the wazees approaching their 80s who should be given a chance to rule for 5 more years before they go to the grave. Needs of Kenyans can wait another 5 years.

d) Badly needed cash incentives that come in many ways, including cash and promise of positions of influence that will help generate those funds in a very short space of time.

I chose "c".

Just Kidding, folks.

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