The Chant of Savant

Sunday 3 October 2021

Can William Ruto Change Course for Kenya’s VPs?

I am one of those who tingle on and interrogate Kenyan Deputy President, William Ruto’s controversial philosophy. Today, I’m building on the same by looking at chances for Ruto’ll make it to the top job. Kenya’s history shows that, out of its ten Vice Presidents, it’s only Daniel arap Moi who landed presidency after the death of his boss, the first president Jomo Kenyatta. There are assumptions that maybe–––if Kenyatta lived to retire or relinquish power–––he won’t have become president. The rest of other vee pees, none made it to the top job.  Currently, Ruto seeks to emulate his mentor and tribesman Moi to become president though differently since his boss is still alive; and will soon retire. Again, there’s a difference between deputy president and vee pee legally and constitutionally.
    The first Vee Pee, Jaramogi Odinga had issues with Kenyatta that forced him to quit the government  and join the opposition. After Odinga, there came Moi who’d no issues with his boss although he'd issues with Kenyatta’s inner sanctum aka the Kiambuu Mafia. He outsmarted them by keeping his cards to his chest. After Moi, at last, after weathering heavy storm and becoming president, he appointed Mwai Kibaki to appease the Kikuyu. However, things didn’t go as planned for Kibaki. Before long, after being vee pee for nine years, Kibaki fell out with his boss and as was for Odinga, he quit the government and joined the opposition to end up clinching presidency 14 years thereafter beating Moi’s choice Uhuru Kenyatta whom Moi wanted to hand the baton as a sign of reciprocity for what his father did. Again, Kibaki’s able to punish his boss after teaming up with other Moi’s vice presidents such as Saitoti, Musyoka and the son of Odinga, Raila.
            When Kibaki became president, he appointed Michael Kijana Wamalwa, who, alas died before finishing his term in office. Therefore, we can’t say anything about him as far as power struggle between president and vee pee is concerned. The same applies to his tribesman, Moody Awori who left without any issues with his boss. Thus, we move on to vee pee professor George Saitoti, who served at this capacity for 14 years. Being Moi’s vee pee for such a long time, Saitoti believe that his boss would hand him a baton after retiring. However, Saitoti got the shock of his life. The baton’s instead given to a greenhorn Uhuru Kenyatta whom Kibaki easily trounced in 2002. Like Odinga and Kibaki, Saitoti left the government and joined the opposition and helped it to defeat the choice and protegee of his boss as a sign of revenge. At least, Kibaki and Saitoti punished their boss one Moi, who left power unceremoniously but died a national hero after Uhuru became president.
            The last vee pee who made it to the opposition and helped to punish his boss, Kibaki, is Kalonzo Musyoka who saved as Kibaki’s vee pee for five years. After  Kibaki, like Moi, supported Uhuru, Kalonzo left the government and joined the opposition though Uhuru this time won and Kibaki triumphed where Moi didn’t. Importantly, the upshot here’s that for vee pee to inherit his boss is historically difficult in Kenya.
            Now, let’s see if Ruto’ll make it to the top with all squabbles between him and his boss. Experience shows that to be a good vee pee, one must keep low profile instead of thinking is a shareholder to the presidency. Those who remember how Ruto used to enjoy the bromance and camaraderie with his boss in the first term under UhuRuto that died many years ago–––when his star rose and aligned–––know how uncomfortable Uhuru’s to have a person who’d think he’s using him to reach his goal even without his choice and will. Instead of being a vee pee, as a deputy president, he thought he’s a co-president while he wasn’t. Now that his star exploding, what does the increase of negative  political luminosity we evidence foretell?
     In the first term, Ruto thought’s in control and the lame duck president who turned out to be as cunning as a fox. Ruto used the idiom that if you can’t convince them confuse them by pretending he’s not against his boss while he’s always been. He used to traduce his boss behind the curtains and pretend he’d take a bullet for him in the public, while he actually can stab him shall opportunity avail itself for him. Thus, he thought he’s confusing his boss after convincing him. Again, when he took the glove off, Ruto started to throw stones at the same government to which’s the member. He thus, started to scare them. Yes, if you can’t confuse them scare them. The best strategy’s to confuse and scare them without including yourself in this confusing and scaring business.
            Will Ruto’s political aggression, assaults and against his boss and theatrics see him through to the top post, and like Moi become an exception to the general rule of Kenyan politics and its races to presidency? Will Ruto punish his boss or be punished by him? Who’ll laugh last and have a laugh longest? Will Uhuru clone or crown Ruto to become president and maltreat him in retirement? How can Ruto meet his presidential ambitions without the support of the other vee pees and other political bigwigs as was the case in Kibaki’s victory? How’ll he while the person he wants to succeed doesn’t only support him but also has some issues with him not to mention that he is retiring? Why didn’t Ruto see the open secret that his presidency ambitions would not succeed without the support of his boss? Why didn’t he see it coming? Is it because of arrogance or overconfidence?  Look at Kibaki even Uhuru. They’re able to succeed either by being supported by colleagues or their bosses.
In sum, one week is a long time in politics; and anything can crop up and turn the tables on anybody. Will Ruto win Uhuru’s confidence and heart back; and thereby force him to divorce his handshake brother, Raila Odinga? Will Raila let this happen while he knows too well that the coming elections are the only chance left for his to give a shot at the presidency? Will Uhuru trust Ruto again for his peril if we refer to how they’re dangerously at loggerheads now? Will Ruto yank the opposition supremos from Kenyatta? For, it is an open secret that Uhuru’s already  shown the dalliance to Odinga. Refer to the formation of One Kenya Alliance (OKA) to rival United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Ruto aims to use as his vehicle come 2022general elections. Considering all facts above, what’s Ruto waiting for in the government that’s already clearly shown him he’s its opponent for his peril?
Source: Daily Monitor today.

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