Why “Mla Mamba” Danson Mungatana is Now Needed to Eat this Raila’s “Mamba”

The “crocodile” narrative by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has fueled political talk in the country with a section of Kenyans apparently buying his narrative while others led by Dp William Ruto and majority leader Aden Duale have completely objected the talks that seem to be gaining momentum with each passing day.

In his characteristic use of analogies, Mr Odinga has since admitted that opposition Nasa’s political journey to ‘Canaan’ during last year’s election was halted by crocodiles in River Jordan.

In the run-up to the hotly contested presidential election, the Nasa leader, the self-styled “Joshua”, sold the narrative of the “promised land” that he would liberate Kenyans from the bondage of corruption, tribalism and other ills.

But in recent months, Mr Odinga whose March 9 handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta calmed the political scene  has said the Canaan trip was cut short “after we encountered crocodiles in River Jordan”, referring to the disputed August presidential election results that were successfully challenged in the Supreme Court followed by Nasa’s boycott of the October repeat poll.

The crocodile analogy now appears to have stirred debate among politicians, the clergy and even schoolchildren.

During a recent ceremony to consecrate regional bishops and other clergymen of the Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa in Karatina, Nyeri County, a primary school pupil, Esther Mwangi, recited a poem praising Deputy President William Ruto as “a good Sunday school teacher” for clearing the air over whether or not there were crocodiles in River Jordan.

Mr Ruto has, often with a light touch, said that nowhere in the Good Book is it indicated there are crocodiles in River Jordan as Joshua led Israelites to Canaan.

He repeated this line in Tseikuru last week during the funeral of former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s father. The Deputy President joked that the confusion created by Mr Odinga was compounded by people’s ignorance since there were limited vernacular versions of the Bible.

Troubled Migori Governor Okoth Obado has also joined in the crocodile chorus.

Speaking recently in the company of Mr Ruto, Mr Obado — who has been charged with murder and is being investigated over corruption and illegal guns — claimed his enemies were trying to push him into the jaws of a crocodile.

But Majority Leader Aden Duale has no time for light moments on the matter.

“The President has made every effort to unite all Kenyans and our brothers from the other side (opposition) must stop this talk. These crocodiles that you remind us of every day only serve to cause divisions. We must stop them because there are no crocodiles among Kenyans,” said Mr Duale last Friday.

Senate Minority Leader James Orengo fired back immediately by mocking the Garissa Town MP for not comprehending figurative language. “Mamba sio binadamu. Na kama wewe unafikiria wewe ni mamba, shauri yako wewe!

Before he fizzled out from elective politics, former Garsen MP Danson Mungatana often declared himself mla mamba (crocodile eater) as he taunted Opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The taunt was meant to portray the lawmaker as a tough and fearless politician who was not scared of Mr Odinga.

With all the confusion that has been brought about by this Crocodile analogy, maybe it’s time to bring back Danson Mungatana to eat this “mamba” and help spare Kenyans the confusion.

Do you think that the “Crocodile analogy” has been drawn out of proportion?

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