A Political Tragedy Play
Characters
Elder Kuria – Former MP of Lari, respected kingpin, voice of hard-earned wisdom.
Gichuka Waithera – A disciplined, principled aspirant recently returned from abroad; firm, incorruptible, and feared for it.
Ndegwa – Loud, proud, and immovable. Believes leadership is his birthright.
Njoroge – Smooth-tongued, donor-backed, allergic to sacrifice.
Mwangi – Regional loyalist; believes leadership is a turn-taking ceremony.
Mungai – Incumbent MP; silent, patient, confident in the power of division.
People of Lari (Chorus) – Observers, followers, victims of their own reverence.
ACT I – The Oath of Unity
Scene opens in Lari community hall. Wooden benches. Murmurs. The People of Lari gather expectantly.
Chorus: We have suffered. We have complained. We have vowed—this time, we unite.
(Enter Ndegwa, Njoroge, Mwangi. Each greeted with applause.)
Ndegwa: We all agree on one thing—Mungai must go. But unity must be sensible. And sensibility points… to me.
Mwangi: (Laughs dryly) Sensible? Lari is not one village, Ndegwa. Lower Lari has waited. History demands balance.
Njoroge: Gentlemen, please. I already printed posters. I already accepted contributions. Stepping down would be… financially irresponsible.
Chorus: (Unity murmurs weaken.) But you promised one candidate…
(Silence follows.)
ACT II – The Returned Son
(Enter Gichuka Waithera. Calm. Reserved. No entourage.)
Gichuka: I came because I heard the cry of Larians. I did not come to rule, but to serve. If unity requires sacrifice, I am ready— If it is for the people.
(Aspirants exchange uneasy glances.)
Ndegwa: You speak like a man with nothing to lose.
Mwangi: Or like a man who does not understand local politics.
Njoroge: Your honesty is admirable… But politics requires flexibility.
Gichuka: No. Politics requires character.
(The hall stiffens.)
Chorus (whispering): This one is dangerous.
ACT III – The Kingpin Speaks
(Enter Elder Kuria. The crowd rises.)
Chorus: Kuria! Our voice! Our elder!
Kuria: Asanteni Sana. Asanteni Sana. Ni hivo. I did not come to be worshipped. I came to warn you. (Turns to the aspirants.) I have watched elections longer than you have grown beards. Division is not strategy—it is political suicide. (Points to Gichuka.) This man can defeat Mungai. Not because of noise. Not because of money. But because people trust him.
Ndegwa: Trust does not win elections.
Mwangi: Regions do.
Njoroge: Resources do.
Kuria: (Looking at them steadily) Then you have learned nothing. (To the People of Lari) If you choose ego over unity, do not cry tomorrow.
ACT IV – The Refusal
Kuria: Step aside. Support him. Win together.
(Long pause.)
Ndegwa: I will not step down.
Mwangi: Not for him.
Njoroge: Not after all I’ve invested.
(Kuria closes his eyes.)
Kuria: Then hear my final word. (Faces the people.) If you cannot choose Gichuka Waithera. Then re-elect Mungai.
(Gasps.)
Chorus: But… he has failed us!
Kuria: Failure you know is better than betrayal from within. These men will not change Lari. They are worse than Mungai— Because they pretend.
(Kuria exits slowly.)
ACT V – The Crown Returns
(Election results announced. Mungai stands calmly.)
Mungai: I said nothing. I fought no one. I only waited.
(Cheers mixed with regret.)
Chorus (softly): We respected Kuria. So we obeyed.
(Gichuka stands alone.)
Gichuka: A nation that rejects integrity must live with its choice.
(Lights dim.)
Epilogue – The Lesson
Chorus (final): Unity was possible. Change was near. But ego spoke louder than wisdom. And so Lari learned— Sometimes the enemy wins not by strength, but by watching brothers refuse to bow.
Curtain falls.
Characters
Elder Kuria – Former MP of Lari, respected kingpin, voice of hard-earned wisdom.
Gichuka Waithera – A disciplined, principled aspirant recently returned from abroad; firm, incorruptible, and feared for it.
Ndegwa – Loud, proud, and immovable. Believes leadership is his birthright.
Njoroge – Smooth-tongued, donor-backed, allergic to sacrifice.
Mwangi – Regional loyalist; believes leadership is a turn-taking ceremony.
Mungai – Incumbent MP; silent, patient, confident in the power of division.
People of Lari (Chorus) – Observers, followers, victims of their own reverence.
ACT I – The Oath of Unity
Scene opens in Lari community hall. Wooden benches. Murmurs. The People of Lari gather expectantly.
Chorus: We have suffered. We have complained. We have vowed—this time, we unite.
(Enter Ndegwa, Njoroge, Mwangi. Each greeted with applause.)
Ndegwa: We all agree on one thing—Mungai must go. But unity must be sensible. And sensibility points… to me.
Mwangi: (Laughs dryly) Sensible? Lari is not one village, Ndegwa. Lower Lari has waited. History demands balance.
Njoroge: Gentlemen, please. I already printed posters. I already accepted contributions. Stepping down would be… financially irresponsible.
Chorus: (Unity murmurs weaken.) But you promised one candidate…
(Silence follows.)
ACT II – The Returned Son
(Enter Gichuka Waithera. Calm. Reserved. No entourage.)
Gichuka: I came because I heard the cry of Larians. I did not come to rule, but to serve. If unity requires sacrifice, I am ready— If it is for the people.
(Aspirants exchange uneasy glances.)
Ndegwa: You speak like a man with nothing to lose.
Mwangi: Or like a man who does not understand local politics.
Njoroge: Your honesty is admirable… But politics requires flexibility.
Gichuka: No. Politics requires character.
(The hall stiffens.)
Chorus (whispering): This one is dangerous.
ACT III – The Kingpin Speaks
(Enter Elder Kuria. The crowd rises.)
Chorus: Kuria! Our voice! Our elder!
Kuria: Asanteni Sana. Asanteni Sana. Ni hivo. I did not come to be worshipped. I came to warn you. (Turns to the aspirants.) I have watched elections longer than you have grown beards. Division is not strategy—it is political suicide. (Points to Gichuka.) This man can defeat Mungai. Not because of noise. Not because of money. But because people trust him.
Ndegwa: Trust does not win elections.
Mwangi: Regions do.
Njoroge: Resources do.
Kuria: (Looking at them steadily) Then you have learned nothing. (To the People of Lari) If you choose ego over unity, do not cry tomorrow.
ACT IV – The Refusal
Kuria: Step aside. Support him. Win together.
(Long pause.)
Ndegwa: I will not step down.
Mwangi: Not for him.
Njoroge: Not after all I’ve invested.
(Kuria closes his eyes.)
Kuria: Then hear my final word. (Faces the people.) If you cannot choose Gichuka Waithera. Then re-elect Mungai.
(Gasps.)
Chorus: But… he has failed us!
Kuria: Failure you know is better than betrayal from within. These men will not change Lari. They are worse than Mungai— Because they pretend.
(Kuria exits slowly.)
ACT V – The Crown Returns
(Election results announced. Mungai stands calmly.)
Mungai: I said nothing. I fought no one. I only waited.
(Cheers mixed with regret.)
Chorus (softly): We respected Kuria. So we obeyed.
(Gichuka stands alone.)
Gichuka: A nation that rejects integrity must live with its choice.
(Lights dim.)
Epilogue – The Lesson
Chorus (final): Unity was possible. Change was near. But ego spoke louder than wisdom. And so Lari learned— Sometimes the enemy wins not by strength, but by watching brothers refuse to bow.
Curtain falls.
