Commentary (by Ken Ouko) - Rich symbolism spices political talk

Ref: http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&newsid=119625
Story by KEN OUKO
Publication Date: 3/23/2008

Something is happening to our politicians. Early sociologists who subscribed to the Doctrine of Spinoza, where individuals regularly change their self-existence, would say of Kenya today that our politicians have suddenly become strident adherents of Spinozism!

What has happened to this breed that we love to loathe yet we mandate every so often to take care of our business?

Suddenly, our politicians are practising an art of speech and behaviour where what they say or do is not meant to be interpreted on the simplistic basis of linguistic empiricism but from the perspective of rich symbolism. The question on everyone’s lips is: why now?

Have our politicians suddenly re-discovered themselves in the spirit of a new beginning or are they just sugar coating their speeches and actions so as not to attract negativism at this moment of history?

In sociological terms, humans resort to the use of symbolism either because they lack the forum to verbalise their intention or because the message they intend to pass is better symbolised than mouthed. There is no better way, for example, that Raila Odinga would have sent his message about the pecking order in the new Kenya than to graciously nudge VP Kalonzo Musyoka out of the seat next to the President in Parliament. After that symbolic spectacle, the VP appeared like an eavesdropper into the conversation between the two heavyweights.

We must not forget that earlier on in Parliament, VP Musyoka had similarly invested in symbolism when he casually informed all who cared to know that he was privy to information that the President would soon be arriving in Parliament.

Assuming that most MPs already knew President Kibaki would make a showing in Parliament, Mr Musyoka would have made his speech and taken his seat but used the opportunity of live media coverage to reveal to the rest of Kenyans that he was ‘‘with it’’ because, soon after, the President strode in.

A week ago, nothing was more symbolic than the lunches between Raila Odinga and the duo of Martha Karua and Amos Kimunya. It was an open secret that the two ministers were perhaps Mr Odinga’s meanest critics and, to share his company over a meal, was not so much about hunger but about a symbolic realignment of the political kind.

Suave gentleman

Mr Kimunya, in particular and ever the suave gentleman, was literally dripping with symbolism when he made it sound like he had sought Mr Odinga’s ‘‘permission’’ to delve into the Safaricom IPO. What cheek!

In reference to Ms Martha Karua, has anyone noticed that she is intelligently playing the gender card to its hilt? Many Kenyans will have noticed that Ms Karua is not only smiling more, but that her smile is beyond the smiley-face kind. She is suddenly spreading the facial-illuminator type of smile and, Lord, isn’t it infectious!

Symbolism took a rather curious turn when Mr Odinga recently hosted Mr Jimmy Kibaki. This was more than an ordinary bonding session. That Mr Odinga brought along his own son, Fidel, thickened the mystery of symbolism. Politically, a meeting with the President’s son is not of obvious value to a man lately in firm control of his destiny and hence the eyebrows about this particular meet.

Mirth and humour

But we can trust that Mr Odinga, ever the advocate of symbolism (remember his football commentaries at political rallies?), must have had good reason to indulge President Kibaki’s first-born son.

The President himself has not been left behind in this vogue of Kenyan politics. His tongue-in-cheek remarks (on the floor of Parliament no less) that we should entrust Mr James Orengo with the constitution and he (Orengo) will deliver it in a few weeks was so rich in mirth and humour that its connotative symbolism escaped many.

All President Kibaki was doing was to indicate his new-found trust of ‘‘the other side’’ and his renewed resolve to get the constitutional agenda off his table and into his legacy.

Sociologists point out that the use of symbolism is largely positive in conveying intent and aspiration.

Symbolism improves interaction. It makes it easier to make meaning of what would, otherwise, not be easily stated.

Prof George Saitoti, however, revealed that sometimes, symbolism may be used to dispense with negative energies.

The ferocity with which the good professor made his presentation on the floor of the House may intelligently be interpreted to mean that he is a man ill at ease with the emergent dispensation that brings on board some fellows he considers less than honourable.

Spirit of novelty

Saitoti’s could also be likened to the domestic tantrums we all throw at those times of crisis when we feel either left out of the ensuing resolution proceedings or we are simply overwhelmed with negative energy accruing from disdain with the status quo.

In a nutshell dear Kenyans, our country is at a historically rich intersection. Our prayer as a people should be that the present crop of politicians will carry the spirit of novelty beyond their all-too-familiar threshold of self-interest and help rebuild this great nation.

As I have stated before, not all conflict is bad.

May be the post-election crisis was thrust upon us by Mr Fate and Mrs Destiny so as to re-direct our path towards a better Kenya.

The writer is a lecturer at the University of Nairobi