The cruelty
of death struck once again, robbed us of national leadership and threw the
country into grief. Sunday 10th June, at Kibiko in Ngong Forest, a
Kenya Police helicopter came tumbling down, barely 15 minutes after leaving
Nairobi’s Wilson Airport. On board the ill- fated chopper were Internal
Security minister Prof. George Saitoti and his assistant Orwa Ojode, two of the
minister’s security detail, the pilot and her co- pilot. All the six occupants had
perished. Just on a the same in 2008 the then Roads minister Kipkalya Kones and
Home Affairs assistant minister Lorna Laboso perished in a plane crash near
Kojong’a Hills in Narok County. A national leadership had been shattered and
young promising careers in the Kenyan police force came to a tragic end.
Difficult to comprehend and hard to come to terms with, two men who had became
the face of national security, were gone, leaving behind shoes that might never
be filled.
We are not
enlargening them in death more than they were in life, as it is the case the
world over, even when social pariahs pass away. Internal security minister and
a professor of Mathematics, Prof George Saitoti, had successful stints in the
Moi regime and the current Kibaki government, till he met his death. The
country’s longest –serving vice - president was a trusted pair of hands, under
the two regimes, as evidenced by the vice-presidency and ministerial posts he served
in.
The fallen
man at the helm of internal ministry was a senior politician and one of the
longest serving legislators in the August house. As characteristic of Saitoti,
he never engaged in public mud-slinging and name – calling, a prevalent feature
among a majority of the country’s current crop politicians. He is a man who
held his tongue and measured his words carefully, even at the most trying of
political times. However, he will be remembered for his straight-talking nature
that at times, even shook the strongest of powers. Most notable was his bare-
knuckle statement to former president Moi, during the KANU-NDP delegates
meeting at Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani. A clearly incensed Saitoti famously
said that there come a time when the interests of the nation are more important
than an individual. This came moments after the former president had endorsed a
young Uhuru Kenyatta as his preferred successor, at the expense of an
experienced battle-hardened political warrior, Saitoti, the then Vice-
president. He decamped to join Kibaki and Raila, among others in defeating KANU
from power, in a landslide victory. He went on to become a trusted lieutenant
of President Kibaki, as evidenced by the Education Ministry and then the crucial Internal Security docket, that he held
up to his death.
Born in 1958
and elected to Parliament for the first time in 1994, the now deceased Ndhiwa
legislator, Joshua Orwa Ojode had become renowned for the gusto and zeal with
which he undertook his assignments as the assistant minister in one of the
country’s most crucial dockets; internal security. Anwsering questions from
members of the house Ojodeh exhibited vast knowledge of the matter at hand and
his straight-shooting nature of talking drew foes and friends alike. He always
had a way of bridging the gap between even the worst of rivals.
A man who
never shyed away from even the most difficult of questions, both in the house
and outside. Ojode always had a substantive answer to any question raised in
the house, with regard to the country’s security matters He was never accused
of double-speak, a feature that is rife with a majority of the politicians,
even those eyeing the presidency in the coming polls. His belligerent style
coupled with hard work, Ojode has set the precedent for the man or woman who
will replace him at this crucial ministry. His diligent nature of attending to
his duties, had earned him accolades, from all corners of the country’s
political landscape, fondly earning him the name sirkal- Dholuo for government.
At a time
when the political scene is abuzz with activity, both ministers and assistant
ministers have already hit the campaign trail, but not Mr Ojode. He was never
spotted in the political rallies, in the bandwagons of those eyeing top seats
in the coming polls. On the contrary, he was steadfast in his duties to the
state, akin to what he once told the house that ` the police are not sleeping,
in order for us to sleep’. As Sotik legislator, Joyce Laboso remarked in the
house, two days later after the grisly plane crash, that question time will
never be the same after Ojode’s death. Several other legislators spoke in the
affirmative, showing the crucial man that Ojode had become, to the house and
the state alike.
The human
nature is fallible, and Prof Saitoti and his assistant, Orwa Ojode, are no
different. As humans they had their fair share of shortcomings. They had their
moments when thy hit low and fell below expectations of the Kenyan people, but
they have left behind an enduring legacy, that we as a country, should strive
to achieve. Before they met the cruel hand of death, they both had set targets
to meet in matters security. Mr Ojode had promised to respond to Ikholomani’s
Bonni Khalwale and Bura’s Abdi Nuh questions on the appointment of two chiefs
to the same location in Nandi County and an errant police officer, who shot
three constituents, respectively. In his final speech to the country, Prof
Saitoti had spoken to length o the coming polls and security issues around
them. A peaceful transition next year will be the perfect gift to the two men
who were in-charge of the country’s security.
May the
Almighty God rest their souls in eternal peace. Amen.
