What you need to know:
Did Ruto contemplate the monopolisation and tribalisation of the presidency by two communities, Kalenjin and Kikuyu who have produced two and three presidents of Kenya respectively since independence?
Kenya’s President-Elect, William Ruto’s a bumpy road ahead of him. He’s inheriting a divided and tribalized country. Therefore, he needs to think out of and without box to maintain the existing peace Kenya experienced after the elections that saw him being declared a winner though controversially. Now Ruto’s at the helms. He needs to think like a leader but not just an imperial President that’s become Africa’s curse thanks to coloniality.
Ruto’s recently quoted as saying “we will not have a handshake that creates a mongrel of a government where no one knows where the line is. I believe in the rule of law. I do not believe in handshake stories” (Daily Nation, Sept 5, 2022). Did Ruto contemplate about the monopolization and tribalization of Presidency by two communities, Kalenjin and Kikuyu who have produced two and three Presidents of Kenya for close to sixty period of being independent? Uhuru Kenyatta, outgoing President who enacted handshake politics is worried as he’s quoted as saying that “when I said a time has come that this country needs a leader from another community, I didn't say it in bad taste, I said it because I have seen elections dividing this country and maybe it's time to show that a leader can come from another community” (Daily Nation, Sept 7, 2022).
Kenyatta adds that “politics is an interesting game and a lot of things will change within three months.” Does Ruto grasp this, especially if he underscores the facts that Kenyans are now complaining about corruption, debts, surge in living cost, tanking economy, tribalism and many more. Kenyatta speaks from a practical experience despite openly preferring Ruto’s nemesis, Raila Odinga. Again, should we ignore Kenyatta’s nuggets of wisdom? I found Ruto’s approach anything but.
If anything, Ruto needs to embark on the unification of Kenya instead of chest beating since:
Firstly, Kenya’s been divided since it gained its independence after the first government entrenched, internalised and weaponised tribalism, which has been Kenya’s albatross around its neck. Therefore, Ruto needs to thread the needle and let Kenya unite instead of dividing it.
Secondly Ruto must revisit marginal victory, which puts Kenya on the razor’s edge. And this is serious. Remember, within three months Kenyatta says things can change, Ruto needs to remind himself about what forced Kenyatta into the handshake with Odinga. It is simple. Odinga still has a big chunk of Kenyans and Kenyan voters. Therefore, it is a political suicide to wish him away, especially if we reckon with the unpredictability of tribal politics. In tribal toxic societies, winning Presidency and ruling tribally divided people are two different things. Kenyatta knows this too well.
Thirdly, Ruto needs to consider the numbers in the parliament. Narok Senator-elect Ledama Ole Kina that “we are the majority and we will play our role. Let us meet in Parliament starting tomorrow” (Daily Nation, Sept 7, 2022). This also speaks volume on how Ruto’s regime will face an uphill situation in passing its bills.
Apart from the above necessities for the unification of Kenya, Ruto and his advisors and handlers need to underscore the fact that he promised many things real and unreal for him to win. Will he deliver without offering an olive branch to his nemesis? Does Ruto know what Odinga, and his staunch followers are contemplating after losing because of what Odinga said “this judgment is by no means the end of our movement, in fact it inspires us to redouble our efforts to transform this country into a prosperous democracy where each and every Kenyan can find their full belonging” (AllAfrica, Sept 5, 2022). Odinga adds that “we will be communicating in the near future on our plans to continue our struggle for transparency, accountability and democracy.”
What adds up to the above utterances by three prominent Kenya politicians on what to expect is that there’s a tough nut for Ruto to crack shall he keep his chest-thumping proclivity. For example, many Kenyans know that his Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua was convicted of obtaining money illegally. Justice Esther Maina of the High Court's Anti-Corruption Division, in convicting Gachagua, says that “the court finds that the funds are liable to forfeiture as the Assets Recovery Authority (ARA) has discharged its burden of proof that the funds were received by Gachagua” (Kenyans.co.ke, July 28, 2022).m However you interpret it, this Gachagua’s conviction. I don’t know what Kenyan constitution says about ethicality and the fitness for convicts to hold high public office. Gachagua remains convicted since he’s not appealed the sentence as he promised. This speaks volumes on how a section of Kenyans would like to see accountability and the fight against corruption based on top-down approach if I can use the term.
In sum, will Ruto accept to think out of and without box and take a bull by horn and unite Kenya or squander the opportunity and hang on power hunger and divide it for his peril and his people?
Source: Daily Monitor today.
Did Ruto contemplate the monopolisation and tribalisation of the presidency by two communities, Kalenjin and Kikuyu who have produced two and three presidents of Kenya respectively since independence?
Kenya’s President-Elect, William Ruto’s a bumpy road ahead of him. He’s inheriting a divided and tribalized country. Therefore, he needs to think out of and without box to maintain the existing peace Kenya experienced after the elections that saw him being declared a winner though controversially. Now Ruto’s at the helms. He needs to think like a leader but not just an imperial President that’s become Africa’s curse thanks to coloniality.
Ruto’s recently quoted as saying “we will not have a handshake that creates a mongrel of a government where no one knows where the line is. I believe in the rule of law. I do not believe in handshake stories” (Daily Nation, Sept 5, 2022). Did Ruto contemplate about the monopolization and tribalization of Presidency by two communities, Kalenjin and Kikuyu who have produced two and three Presidents of Kenya for close to sixty period of being independent? Uhuru Kenyatta, outgoing President who enacted handshake politics is worried as he’s quoted as saying that “when I said a time has come that this country needs a leader from another community, I didn't say it in bad taste, I said it because I have seen elections dividing this country and maybe it's time to show that a leader can come from another community” (Daily Nation, Sept 7, 2022).
Kenyatta adds that “politics is an interesting game and a lot of things will change within three months.” Does Ruto grasp this, especially if he underscores the facts that Kenyans are now complaining about corruption, debts, surge in living cost, tanking economy, tribalism and many more. Kenyatta speaks from a practical experience despite openly preferring Ruto’s nemesis, Raila Odinga. Again, should we ignore Kenyatta’s nuggets of wisdom? I found Ruto’s approach anything but.
If anything, Ruto needs to embark on the unification of Kenya instead of chest beating since:
Firstly, Kenya’s been divided since it gained its independence after the first government entrenched, internalised and weaponised tribalism, which has been Kenya’s albatross around its neck. Therefore, Ruto needs to thread the needle and let Kenya unite instead of dividing it.
Secondly Ruto must revisit marginal victory, which puts Kenya on the razor’s edge. And this is serious. Remember, within three months Kenyatta says things can change, Ruto needs to remind himself about what forced Kenyatta into the handshake with Odinga. It is simple. Odinga still has a big chunk of Kenyans and Kenyan voters. Therefore, it is a political suicide to wish him away, especially if we reckon with the unpredictability of tribal politics. In tribal toxic societies, winning Presidency and ruling tribally divided people are two different things. Kenyatta knows this too well.
Thirdly, Ruto needs to consider the numbers in the parliament. Narok Senator-elect Ledama Ole Kina that “we are the majority and we will play our role. Let us meet in Parliament starting tomorrow” (Daily Nation, Sept 7, 2022). This also speaks volume on how Ruto’s regime will face an uphill situation in passing its bills.
Apart from the above necessities for the unification of Kenya, Ruto and his advisors and handlers need to underscore the fact that he promised many things real and unreal for him to win. Will he deliver without offering an olive branch to his nemesis? Does Ruto know what Odinga, and his staunch followers are contemplating after losing because of what Odinga said “this judgment is by no means the end of our movement, in fact it inspires us to redouble our efforts to transform this country into a prosperous democracy where each and every Kenyan can find their full belonging” (AllAfrica, Sept 5, 2022). Odinga adds that “we will be communicating in the near future on our plans to continue our struggle for transparency, accountability and democracy.”
What adds up to the above utterances by three prominent Kenya politicians on what to expect is that there’s a tough nut for Ruto to crack shall he keep his chest-thumping proclivity. For example, many Kenyans know that his Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua was convicted of obtaining money illegally. Justice Esther Maina of the High Court's Anti-Corruption Division, in convicting Gachagua, says that “the court finds that the funds are liable to forfeiture as the Assets Recovery Authority (ARA) has discharged its burden of proof that the funds were received by Gachagua” (Kenyans.co.ke, July 28, 2022).m However you interpret it, this Gachagua’s conviction. I don’t know what Kenyan constitution says about ethicality and the fitness for convicts to hold high public office. Gachagua remains convicted since he’s not appealed the sentence as he promised. This speaks volumes on how a section of Kenyans would like to see accountability and the fight against corruption based on top-down approach if I can use the term.
In sum, will Ruto accept to think out of and without box and take a bull by horn and unite Kenya or squander the opportunity and hang on power hunger and divide it for his peril and his people?
Source: Daily Monitor today.
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