BY FWAMBA NC FWAMBA
Though it was highly anticipated that there was going to be a Cabinet reshuffle long before the President presented the corruption List of Shame to Parliament, the appointment of Eugene Wamalwa to the Cabinet couldn’t have come at a better time.
Wamalwa’s appointment is unlike any other. Apart from it being a significant step in building an all-inclusive government, it is a powerful political statement and a delicate balancing act to take care of any fallout as a result of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s war on corruption. A number of Uhuru's allies have been named in the list.
The 2017 politics and alliances can’t be wished away. While the opposition is working day and night to improve on its performance of 2013 and deny Jubilee the 50 per cent plus 1 outright win, Uhuru is determined to mobilise all parts of the country to gain absolute legitimacy with a clearer win in 2017.
Cord has openly declared that Uhuru’s war on corruption is a public relations gimmick. But in contradiction, Cord leading lights Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga have come out to viciously defend suspended Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu.
Raila has come out as a strong defender of those named by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission but in the same vein has been calling for the prosecution of electoral commission chairman Isaack Hassan. The former Prime Minister has also put up a spirited fight against Devolution CS Anne Waiguru, asking her to step down over alleged misappropriation of the National Youth Service funds.
After appearing for the mention of her case in relation to 134 acres in Karen, Ngilu declared that Jubilee government has failed in the war on corruption and ought to resign. She defended her long-time political rival Kalonzo against allegations that he grabbed more than 500 acres in Yatta that belonged to NYS.
Ngilu said the land belongs to the people of Ukambani and no one has a right to question how Kalonzo acquired it. The latest symbiosis between the two Ukambani leaders is a case of scratch my back, I scratch yours. It is evident that the war on graft has become a political affair in preparation for the 2017 elections.
The definition of corruption is now debatable and depends on who is in your camp and who is not. It is a sign that political realignments have begun and corruption will be a significant tool in hoodwinking the voters. Cord’s support for Ngilu is nothing but a way of getting her back into the family.
Ngilu’s presence in the Jubilee line-up in the March 4, 2013 general election provided Ukambani votes that enabled Uhuru get the 50 per cent plus one threshold, even though the greater majority voted for Cord. It’s for this reason that she was considered for a Cabinet post together with other politicians such as Najib Balala and Kazungu Kambi, despite the fact that the Jubilee leadership had declared no politician would be in their Cabinet line-up.
Ngilu’s life in Jubilee appears to be over and her association with the Cord principals might be a fallback plan to be relevant in another political alliance in preparation for 2017 or a tool for blackmail to get the President’s attention.
Wamalwa has charismatic following in Luhyaland. Strategically, after missing out on the running mate slot in Jubilee to William Ruto in 2013, Wamalwa opted to support UDF’s Musalia Mudavadi, a fellow Luhya. This projected Wamalwa as selfless and someone keen on Luhya unity. That sacrifice kept Wamalwa in the cold for more than two years until his recent appointment to the Cabinet.
In 2013, Luhyaland mainly voted for Cord and UDF. The Jubilee coalition performed dismally, largely because the majority of voters felt that the then UDF flagbearer Mudavadi had been shortchanged by Uhuru and Ruto.
The rebranding of Mudavadi ahead of the 2017 elections is indicative that the former Vice President is fully in the presidential race. His political leaning since the 2013 elections has been significantly towards Jubilee and a number of his allies have been appointed to various positions by Uhuru’s government. It is therefore likely that Mudavadi will either be part of the Jubilee coalition or run on his own in preparation of putting up a more serious bid in 2022.
Uhuru has tried to be everybody’s President and that has won him admiration, even among his fiercest critics. This will easily gain him more support, not necessarily on the basis of his performance as President, but on the basis of being inclusive and accommodating.
Eugene’s entry into Cabinet pronounces Jubilee’s entry into Western in a much stronger way than before. Being a vote-rich bloc, political harvest will be significant for whoever will be supported by the most diverse and democratic community in Kenya.
Fwamba comments on topical issues.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/uhuru-hired-eugene-luhyaland-votes#sthash.sdvFI2Ts.dpuf
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