This is a novel by Kenyan author Sam Okello, and he underlines that it is a novel, although he barely tries to conceal who is who. Names are only slightly changed so that personalities cannot be hidden, but skewered and demeaned as the novel unfolds. The story revolves around Kenya’s presidential election of 2002. The plot, and there is not much of one, involves the machinations of those who were seeking to upend Moi.
Various personalities (as named in the novel), incumbent President Darapmio, his cousin Nick Boit, challenger Kabuku, Kinyatti’s son Ohuru, ruling party NUKA, etc., are easily identified. Certainly that is what author Okello wants to do. He then puts words in their mouths and plots—murder, tribalism, betrayals in their hearts.
Throughout the novel an inept assassin (aptly) named Bozo, directed by the evil Boit, targets leading personalities. Not surprisingly (given Okello’s ethnicity) in the end only the Odinga character dubbed Agwambo in the novel comes off with some saving graces. Everyone else, except Mama Ngyina, is despicable.
Part of the contrived plot pits Kabuku’s two wives, Luci and Maria, in a contest to control him and thus his impending presidency. Their scheming is pretty far-fetched until Kabuku is badly injured in a car wreck that is portrayed as another of Bozo’s failed assassination attempts. Then their struggle really is for control of their husband, the leadership of the nation and the title “Her Excellency.”
Plot and poor character development aside, the novel provides a scathing insider’s look at Kenyan politics. What is revealed is a nasty world of backbiting opportunists who are only interested in feathering their own nests and securing their respective communities’ (read tribes) place at the national trough. Kikuyus are portrayed as particularly pernicious. Overall the novel paints a pretty depressing picture, but I reckon that is what Okello wanted to show.
Structurally, the novel jumped around quickly from scene to scene. The language employed was colloquial even when not in dialogue. For example, I became irritated with the repeated use of gonna and wanna. There were also editing errors.
Unless you are an avid advocate of internal Kenyan politics and vividly recall the 2002 election, give this novel a pass.
