David Munyakei, the man who put his neck on the line to blow the whistle on the colossal theft that is the Goldenberg scandal, passed away on Sunday evening after a short illness at the Narok county hospital.

David Munyakei

14 years after risking his neck, the matter remains unresolved and the players charged with bringing the culprits to books are engaged in a right royal bout of shadow boxing and pussy footing.

Unlike the United States and the UK, Kenya’s legal system does not boast a robust witness protection system that affords witnesses the opportunity to retire to sunny locales and never have to worry about money and bills again. If you are going to whistle-blow in Kenya you are pretty much on your own.

But he blew the whistle anyway in one of the biggest scandals ever to rock this country, and got misery for his trouble, starting with losing his job, followed closely by being incarcerated and finally being confined to a life of misery with his young family.

Many people thought that with the new government coming to power, he would finally get his just rewards for blowing the whistle on the fraud and putting to an end a rich gravy train that enriched quite a few people while it rode.

The NARC government has as usual exemplified itself on the matter – long on lip service and short on action. Promises and promises were made, his hand was shaken by dozens of beaming ministers, careful to make use of the photo opportunity as it arose, and pledges were made to recognize him for what he had done.

And he was promptly forgotten.

A government that can pay Aaron Ringera 2,500,000 and his for deputies similarly obscene figures per month ostensibly to track down and bring to book the corrupt for some reason is unable to attend to the very basic needs for a man who gave up everything to stop the plunder of a nation.

The fact that other than some junior policemen Aaron and his lads have next to nothing to show for the billions that have been sunk does not surprise.

Let me hazard what will happen now.

Sacred, as well as plain old, cows will call for hero’s send off for David. Care will be taken by these big fish to be caught on camera going to console the widow. Pledges will be made to help the family in these trying times.

At the funeral a mix of calling for Kenyans to emulate the departed hero and cheap shots at political opponents will be made. Again pledges will be made to help the young family.

And as soon as the television cameras are off motorcades and helicopters will be hurriedly made for, and within a week, just like the many before him – Bildad Kaggia, Paul Ngei, Makan Singh – he will be forgotten.

Which is why I admire him even more and wish when the time comes I will be able to sacrifice everything for the good of my countrymen and women. Because he probably knew what he was doing was thankless and that he would suffer for the rest of his days.

But he did it anyway.

And it is more such people that Kenya needs to become the great country that it so richly deserves to be.

Mr. Munyakei – it may not be obvious, but the thanks and prayers of a Nation are with you and with your family.

I can say for a fact that you have inspired at least one person.

May we always have the courage to do the right thing, no matter the cost. May we always have the courage to put our country ahead of us. May we never lose sight of the fact that one man can make a difference.

May you get the rest that you so richly deserve.

Thank you.

To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it; to go through intrigue spotless; and to forgo even ambition when the end is gained — who can say this is not greatness?

William Thackeray