This commentary examines the uneasy politics surrounding Migori Governor Okoth Obado after his release on bail and the reactions that followed.
A few weeks before the piece was published, Obado was freed on bail, a move that stirred sharply divided reactions. His backers celebrated the decision, while others were left asking how a life could be lost and yet justice still feel distant.
Even with bail, the governor remained under strict conditions. He was not allowed to travel outside the country or move more than 20km within Migori County.
The article then turns to the wider culture of power in Kenya, drawing on George Orwell’s Animal Farm and its famous warning that “All animals are created equal but some are more equal than others.” The comparison is used to argue that political elites often preach equality while operating by different rules.
That tension was visible, the writer says, at a meeting chaired by Deputy President William Ruto, where Obado spoke about involving young people in agriculture. His contribution was described as thoughtful and informative, but the atmosphere in the room made it hard to ignore the discomfort his presence caused.
When Obado’s name came up, the reaction in the room suggested that many people were thinking the same thing: he should not have been there, or at least not speaking so openly. Yet no one challenged him, and the meeting moved on as though nothing was unusual.
The column also raises a gendered question about public accountability, asking whether a woman in the same position would have been treated with the same ease or whether she would have been forced out of sight for months.
From there, the piece broadens into a critique of Kenya’s political realignments after the handshake and the rollout of the Building Bridges Initiative. It notes that, almost a year later, some of the same figures were receiving regional jobs and other benefits.
One example given is Kalonzo Musyoka, who regained his security detail at all three of his homes after President Uhuru Kenyatta attended his father’s funeral. The writer presents this as part of a pattern in which powerful people appear to be repairing their own political bridges while ordinary citizens see little change.
The article is especially critical of young people who attend political gatherings but focus on selfies instead of pressing leaders on substance. It argues that when opportunities arise to raise real concerns, many lose their nerve once they are in the room with power.
At the same time, the writer acknowledges that some young people genuinely want a better country but do not have access to influential figures. In private, they question whether they are properly represented and whether leaders truly know what is best for them, but in public they often fall back into silence.
The closing reflection comes from a South African friend who asked why Kenyans are not more honest with themselves about leadership. The comparison drawn is that South African politicians often state their positions plainly and stand by them, while Kenyans are portrayed as inconsistent and evasive.
Nerima Wako-Ojiwa is executive director of Siasa Place. Twittter: @NerimaW
