With no cogent plan, pact with Raila may buy Ruto time

By Moses Muli

Published: July 26,2024 11:49 AM

When President Ruto assumed office, ‘hustlers’ were optimistic that a new era had dawned in Kenya. An era free from dynasties and one of economic freedom that would dismantle corrupt governance. This was never to be.

However, as time passed, hustlers began to feel disillusioned. Promises of economic freedom were empty words as the gap between the rich and the poor continued to widen. Corruption and nepotism still plagued the government, with scandals erupting left and right. The hope for a new era free from dynasties started to fade. Hustlers realized that change would not come easy, and they would have to continue fighting for their envisioned future. They learnt that they were on their own and something had to be done to rescue themselves from the yoke of corruption and unemployment.

This marked the start of the protests led by Gen Z. To quell the demos, President Ruto yielded to some demands from young people, but in an interesting turn of events, he reached out to Raila Odinga to form an inclusive Executive.

This decision has ignited controversy and prompted accusations of betrayal from several leaders, who accuse the ODM leader of seeking self-interest at the expense of a just cause of ridding the country of poor governance.

Despite the backlash, Odinga remains steadfast in his decision, emphasizing the need for unity and progress. He believes his actions are in the best interest of the nation, even if they are met with criticism. Odinga is determined to push forward with his agenda for change, regardless of the challenges and opposition he may face.

The development is reshaping Kenya’s political scene and demonstrating strategic alliances amid ongoing political tensions and protests. The alliances being formed are not based on shared ideologies, but on strategic calculations to acquire an upper hand in the political arena. The future of Kenya’s politics is uncertain amid escalating tensions and frequent protests, where every move and decision have a significant impact on the direction of the country.

But politically speaking, is President Ruto buying time to reorganise his team in readiness for the 2027 General Election? Does he have a plan, or is he making it up as he goes along? Are Kenyans judging him too early to deliver on his promises?

Once upon a time, there lived a king who condemned two prisoners to death. One prisoner, a genius, proposed a deal to the king. He promised to teach the king’s horse how to fly, but only if the king would suspend his sentence for one year. The king, who loved his horse, agreed to the deal.

This turn of events confused the other prisoner. He questioned his fellow prisoner, wondering how he could deceive the king by claiming to teach a horse to fly. The clever prisoner explained his strategy, stating that he had given himself four chances for freedom. He reasoned that if the king died, he would be free, or if he died, he would be free as well. If the horse died, he would also be free. And lastly, there was a chance that he could teach the horse to fly.

Taking his chances without a concrete plan, the clever prisoner had one year to determine which option would lead to his freedom. Similarly, like the clever prisoner, perhaps Ruto has no coherent plan, but his alliance with Raila may buy him time. Pessimists should give him a chance – who knows, he will surprise everyone and achieve the difficult, like teaching a horse to fly.