Do Not Forget Governor Mandago’s Words And Why Politics Should Never Be A Matter Of Life And Death

Jackson Mandago, the governor of Uasin Gishu, spoke on Kenyan politics at the perfect time as emotions among Kenyans were running high in anticipation of this year’s General Election, which is just four days away.

In a speech he gave earlier this year that has since surfaced as elections draw near, Governor Mandago cautions Kenyans against taking allegiance to political leaders too seriously.

The county executive asserts that because politicians frequently change their positions to fit their needs at any given moment, voters shouldn’t base their choices on their current political allegiances.

“Mambo ya siasa msiweke kwa roho, siasa ni kama upepo; inaweza panda, kushuka au kusimama,” says Mandago in a now viral video from February where he was addressing Uasin Gishu residents..

He cites the March 2018 ‘handshake’ between President Uhuru Kenyatta and then-opposition leader Raila Odinga.

“Handshake ilipokuja watu wengine walikuwa karibu wapandishe pressure, sasa Mudavadi na Wetangula wako kwa bottom-up wanatangatanga lakini hapo nyuma walikuwa corner gani?” poses Mandago.

“Wewe endelea kuhangaika hapo Eldoret, watu watakutana uachwe hapo ukipiga kelele!”

The governor goes on to remark that throughout his brief time in politics, he has seen many political “feuds” play out in public, most of which remain inside the confines of political venues.

Mandigo contends that the politicians insult one another all day long during their rallies before sitting down to dinner together.

“I am not the most experienced politician lakini kwa hii muda kidogo mumenipatia nafasi, nimeona mambo mingi,” he says.

The legislator adds: “Kuna mambo mnaona kwa TV lakini ile iko nyuma ya hayo ndio mingi. Mkiona wanapigana, jioni wanakula dinner.”