When the phone stops to Ring
The day I left office, my phone literally ceased to ring.- By Dr Bitange Ndemo Over the past one year, I have been informally doing a unique kind of research, which was prompted by my experience after leaving public service. I have talked to more than 150 people, including those who retired from high-profile jobs, lost an election after serving the people, retired from athletics, and even those who have either been fired or otherwise dropped from top jobs. Their responses show a convergence on the experience that their relationships with people deteriorate when their fortunes appear to nose-dive. The Kenyan culture is such that people attach value to friendship, but their friends value them for their money or influence. The day I left office, my phone literally ceased to ring. My “friends” had moved on. I found myself checking my phone to establish if I had inadvertently put it off. The phone was fine. Prior to my departure from office, receiving 30 calls an hour was no