DOROTHY JEBET
The firm handshake between US President Barack Obama and Deputy President William Ruto last Saturday and Sunday spoke volumes. An elated DP shook Obama’s hand as if his life depended on it – and he had every reason to be happy to meet Baba Malia. His followers breathed a sigh of relief, as it would have been a huge embarrassment had Ruto not got to meet Obama. The DP's political 'bonga points' would have instantly dropped had Obama left without a face-to-face encounter with him, no matter how brief. His haters would be having a field day amplifying his alleged waltz with graft, and the ongoing ICC case. What's more, they would be singing from the rooftops about how the man poised to occupy the house on the hill was kept away from the limelight during Obama’s visit.
Even when rumours started doing the rounds on social media and other forums that Ruto would not be meeting Obama, the DP never appeared bothered. He left the naysayers falling over themselves wishing the rumours would come to pass. The son of Samoei had the last laugh as the doomsayers retreated to lick their wounds!
Ruto was in Eldoret on Thursday as the country prepared to receive Obama. He wasn’t at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when Obama arrived, and all this heightened the speculation that indeed the DP would not be in any form of contact with Obama. URP supporters were lost for words, but put up a brave face telling those responsible for the grapevine off. Their hopes were, however, realised as their man’s hearty encounter with POTUS won front page news with captivating captions. It was indeed important for Ruto to shake the hand of Obama, if anything to prove his critics wrong.
Ruto savoured the moment each time Obama stretched out his hand to greet him. Although the handshake did not wash away all the real and imagined sins Ruto is being accused of, it made him feel accepted. After all, no one is a saint – and even President Uhuru Kenyatta is not perfect. His war on corruption is viewed as lopsided. The people he has appointed to various public offices appear to be largely drawn from the same ethnic community – thanks to the Jubilee’s national anthem of “tyranny of numbers”. Even though his ICC case was terminated in March, the court’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, still swears that it is not over yet.
But as Ruto gladly shook hands with Obama, Rift Valley, as usual, was shaking – albeit silently – wondering how the region should approach the 2017 general elections. Some URP MPs doubt Mt Kenya region will respect the 2013 MoU between TNA and URP in which they agreed to throw their weight behind Ruto. They want Ruto to throw his hat in the Presidential ring. But the million-dollar question is: Will the DP listen to these whispers, or will he trust in his friend Uhuru and wait for 2022? Time will tell.
Political analysts say the MPs fear Central Kenya is grooming their own to take over from Uhuru. Peter Kenneth is the man giving them political nightmares. However, it is a whole seven long years to 2022. Anything can happen. The politicians entertaining this school of thought can change their minds in the hope that Central Kenya has undergone a 'Paul of Damascus moment' and will honour their end of the bargain. But still, some opine that although Uhuru might stick to the gentleman’s agreement, it is not a guarantee 'his people' will do the needful and support Ruto. This is not only the feeling of the MPs, it is a notion that is gaining momentum. It is fuelled by suspicion and lessons from Kenya’s political history, riddled with past political MoUs that were not honoured.
In 2002, when President Daniel arap Moi chose Uhuru over former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as his preferred Presidential candidate to succeed him, Raila quit Kanu and formed the Liberal Democratic Party. He joined the opposition under the Narc umbrella. Raila sacrificed his Presidential ambitions and declared Kibaki "Tosha”. But when it was time for the latter to return the favour, he retracted. Kibaki, without blinking an eyelid, decimated the MoU. He forgot his wheelchair-bound days when Raila stood by him and campaigned across Kenya to have him elected as Kenya’s third President.
After the 2007 disputed elections, Kalonzo Musyoka turned red and green and sneaked into the hurriedly formed government of Mwai Kibaki after a swearing in ceremony done at dusk, which was witnessed by more mosquitoes than humans. The man from Tseikuru had been sweet-talked by Kibaki henchmen into abandoning the opposition in its hour of need with a promise of the Presidency in 2013!
When the time came for Kibaki to return the favour, Kalonzo realised just like Raila before him had been hoodwinked, he had also been taken for a ride. The people of Rift Valley don’t want to confront this possibility, but deep inside their hearts they know it is much likely. That is why some leaders are mulling plan B as the TNA-URP ship sails in the high seas into 2017.
But in the spirit of POTUS, the people of Kenya should once and for all forget about their tribal cocoons and forge a united front for a strong and a united Kenya.
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