Kenya's Ruto vs. Uhuru Kenyatta
21 July 2023 By Kareem Abiodun Giwa
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, and President Williams Ruto
Kenya's politics is complex. Ngugi wa Thiong'o "The River Between" is an exciting introduction to politics in the East African country. The Kenyan question reverberates as events unfold between the current and former presidents over protests in the country. Has Raila Odinga become the stream as Ruto requests Kenyatta to abandon Odinga? President Ruto accused Kenyatta of the power behind massive demonstrations against his government. He said Kenyatta financed the protests and demanded his former boss leave Odinga. Beyond Ruto's words are actions targeted against Kenyatta's children and his 90-year-old mother.
"I thought we live in a democracy where everyone has a right of association," Kenyatta said in response to Ruto's request. Kenyatta said he handed power to Ruto democratically. The former president is bitter that law enforcement agents visited his children's homes and that the government had withdrawn security from his mother's homes, exposing her to insecurity. He called on Ruto to come for him and leave his family members alone. And he vowed that Odinga would remain his leader.
Ruto demanded Kenyatta abandon Odinga! Is Kenyatta standing between Ruto and Odinga, or between him and efforts to initiate social, economic programs acceptable to Kenyans? First, he upheld Odinga's invisibility and political sagacity. Ruto is not talking directly about Odinga. He cannot confront him but thinks he can pressure Kenyatta to get Odinga in order. Can that work?
Ruto needs a communication line open between him and Kenyatta. News reports show the two have yet to communicate since after the election. Kenyatta was his boss as president, and he was a vice president. Kenyatta supported Odinga's run for president against Ruto. He did nothing to obstruct the transfer of power to Ruto. The president needs Kenyatta more than Kenyatta needs him in settling down to governance. And if the opposition leader Odinga calls a protest, he can get support from others who believe in his program, especially his friends, since he is not calling them to participate in a crime.
Defeating Kenyatta and Odinga electorally and having political power is not an excuse for a lack of humility. Odinga is no stranger to the Kenyan political turf. He is tough, strong, resilient, and a nightmare to successive governments. Kenyatta tasted the bitter pill before he and Odinga became friends. Observers often wonder how Kenyatta achieved the feat of winning over Odinga. Ruto needs to learn from Kenyatta. It is a lesson about humility and building bridges, not otherwise. Threatening Kenyatta's family or Kenyatta himself is not a solution. Ruto needs to wear the toga of winning friends and not losing them.
Embracing a militaristic approach shows the lack of a sense of political alignment and realignment, which understanding is what politics and leadership are all about. Kenyatta was right, saying having a friend is not a crime in Kenya. Ruto's public proclamation that Kenyatta finances Odinga's called protests is a show of insecurity on his part. The success of Odinga's called rally jostled Ruto into the wrong action. The correct solution for Ruto is to eat the humble pie. Repair the burned bridge with Kenyatta or find a way to win Odinga without Kenyatta's involvement. But why exclude Kenyatta when all can work together for Kenya's success?
Craig Johnson says the aggressive approach - one of leadership's shadow casters - can be counterproductive. He says, "More often than not, cooperation is more productive than competition." Ruto wanted the presidency, and he got it. How he defeated Kenyatta and Odinga in the elections is no longer an issue. He is already a president. He has the power but also needs to exercise authority and execute his programs. He needs to establish a legacy for post-president time. It is one thing to call a protest; it is another for the public to answer. There are protests called that lack support. People will respond to a call when social and economic issues require attention.
Events show Kenya's divide has become more comprehensive from comments on government appointments based on ethnicity and an economic policy not geared toward the ordinary people. All these have served as gasoline to angry Kenyans against Ruto. He cannot hurriedly begin to reorder priorities in turmoil. And in reordering priorities and expecting the people to wait for another year to enjoy good governance means he needs Kenyans' cooperation.
"I thought we live in a democracy where everyone has a right of association," Kenyatta said in response to Ruto's request. Kenyatta said he handed power to Ruto democratically. The former president is bitter that law enforcement agents visited his children's homes and that the government had withdrawn security from his mother's homes, exposing her to insecurity. He called on Ruto to come for him and leave his family members alone. And he vowed that Odinga would remain his leader.
Ruto demanded Kenyatta abandon Odinga! Is Kenyatta standing between Ruto and Odinga, or between him and efforts to initiate social, economic programs acceptable to Kenyans? First, he upheld Odinga's invisibility and political sagacity. Ruto is not talking directly about Odinga. He cannot confront him but thinks he can pressure Kenyatta to get Odinga in order. Can that work?
Ruto needs a communication line open between him and Kenyatta. News reports show the two have yet to communicate since after the election. Kenyatta was his boss as president, and he was a vice president. Kenyatta supported Odinga's run for president against Ruto. He did nothing to obstruct the transfer of power to Ruto. The president needs Kenyatta more than Kenyatta needs him in settling down to governance. And if the opposition leader Odinga calls a protest, he can get support from others who believe in his program, especially his friends, since he is not calling them to participate in a crime.
Defeating Kenyatta and Odinga electorally and having political power is not an excuse for a lack of humility. Odinga is no stranger to the Kenyan political turf. He is tough, strong, resilient, and a nightmare to successive governments. Kenyatta tasted the bitter pill before he and Odinga became friends. Observers often wonder how Kenyatta achieved the feat of winning over Odinga. Ruto needs to learn from Kenyatta. It is a lesson about humility and building bridges, not otherwise. Threatening Kenyatta's family or Kenyatta himself is not a solution. Ruto needs to wear the toga of winning friends and not losing them.
Embracing a militaristic approach shows the lack of a sense of political alignment and realignment, which understanding is what politics and leadership are all about. Kenyatta was right, saying having a friend is not a crime in Kenya. Ruto's public proclamation that Kenyatta finances Odinga's called protests is a show of insecurity on his part. The success of Odinga's called rally jostled Ruto into the wrong action. The correct solution for Ruto is to eat the humble pie. Repair the burned bridge with Kenyatta or find a way to win Odinga without Kenyatta's involvement. But why exclude Kenyatta when all can work together for Kenya's success?
Craig Johnson says the aggressive approach - one of leadership's shadow casters - can be counterproductive. He says, "More often than not, cooperation is more productive than competition." Ruto wanted the presidency, and he got it. How he defeated Kenyatta and Odinga in the elections is no longer an issue. He is already a president. He has the power but also needs to exercise authority and execute his programs. He needs to establish a legacy for post-president time. It is one thing to call a protest; it is another for the public to answer. There are protests called that lack support. People will respond to a call when social and economic issues require attention.
Events show Kenya's divide has become more comprehensive from comments on government appointments based on ethnicity and an economic policy not geared toward the ordinary people. All these have served as gasoline to angry Kenyans against Ruto. He cannot hurriedly begin to reorder priorities in turmoil. And in reordering priorities and expecting the people to wait for another year to enjoy good governance means he needs Kenyans' cooperation.
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