History demonstrates that the act of betraying allies invariably results in suffering.On August 23, 1939, just eight days before Germany under Hitler initiated World War II, Hitler entered into a non aggression treaty with Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union. On June 22, 1941, two years into the conflict, and after dominating much of mainland Europe, Germany launched a large-scale surprise attack on Russia.
Credits: By Peter Ranginya
Little did Hitler realize that four years later, it would be the Red forces of Russia who would be the first Allied troops to enter Berlin. They did so with extreme brutality, bombing indiscriminately, killing every male they encountered, and committing mass rape. Unable to confront this reality, Hitler chose to end his life in his bunker, utterly defeated.
Back home in Kenya, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga declined to guide the nation to independence unless the Kapenguria Six were released and Jomo Kenyatta was allowed to lead the struggle. Three years later, in 1966, the elite surrounding Kenyatta conspired to gradually push Jaramogi out of the vice presidency. Among these conspirators were his fellow tribesmen, Tom Mboya and Argwings Kodhek.
Following the humiliating Limuru Conference in April 1966, Jaramogi resigned from the government and KANU and went on to form the Kenya Peoples Congress. In solidarity, twenty-nine ministers, MPs, and senators resigned with him. On June 21 and 22, 1966, mini general elections were held. KANU won twelve parliamentary seats and eight Senate seats, while KPU secured seven parliamentary seats and two Senate seats.
The following day, the Daily Nation carried the headline, KPU IS DEAD, SAYS MBOYA. Unknown to him, it would be he and Kodhek, who would soon be dead. On January 29, 1969, Argwings Kodhek died in a mysterious road accident on what is now Argwings Kodhek Road. Six months later, on July 5, Tom Mboya was gunned down in broad daylight on what is now Moi Avenue.
The betrayal of Jaramogi birthed one of the two greatest evils that plague this country today, tribalism, the other being corruption. The cases of Dr. Robert Ouko and PS Hezekiah Oyugi were equally tragic. Both served diligently under regimes that were brutal to their own people, and both met lonely, painful ends.
The absurdity of betraying allies is that it is often done for petty gain. Jesus was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver. Hitler invaded an already impoverished Russia when he already controlled mainland Europe. Kenyatta’s allies could have exercised power without humiliating Jaramogi.
Today, our genuine allies, the Luhya and the Kamba, who have stood with us for five and three election cycles, respectively, are being dismissed as though they do not matter. And for what? Not the presidency. Not the deputy presidency. But a few millions, helicopter rides, and two cabinet positions.
Officially, BABA received 6.9 million votes in 2022. Only about 1.5 million came from Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay, and Migori counties. Dr Oburu, remember that another Luo will one day seek the presidency. Stop this betrayal so that he or she may continue from where BABA left off in 2022, rather than starting again from where BABA began in 1997, relying solely on Luo votes.
Even your senile contemporary Donald Trump, who had for months been prepared to invade Greenland from fellow NATO ally Denmark, recently experienced a Damascus moment at the World Economic Forum after European leaders reminded him that alliances are not charities.
And to Wandayi, Wanga, Mbadi, Atandi, Kaluma, Akuba, Okello, Ojienda, Ochanda, and others, be warned. The cost of betrayal is always severe. One way or another, history always collects its debt from those who turn national movements into ethnic enclaves for thirty pieces of silver.
Bantu MEDIA 