The Candidates Poem by Gerald Kithinji

They promised us
All manner of pleasant solace
As this manifesto witnesses;
And to show our reliance
We implored them to denounce
Older forms of dishonesty
With charity appreciable by view

They and each of them
And all their ilk
Swore to buy our support
In gross and in detail
And so on and so forth
Mutatis mutandis
Per omnia saecula saeculorum!

But we were lowly natives
And matched with local casuistry
And various verbal falsehoods
What code of necromancy
Would misfortunes foretell!

Nefarious candidates
The time has come:
Purge your consciences!
1974