- He oversaw and promised projects.
- Raila stayed away, not stealing the limelight from Ruto.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto concluded a historic visit to the ODM strongholds of Kakamega and Nyanza last Saturday. The tour was judged successful. It paid political dividends to the President on one hand. On the other hand, residents received promissory notes on development projects.
The reception was ecstatic. Just two years ago, the President’s visits to the region received a muted welcome. Only the UDA enthusiasts lined up then to receive him in mostly private functions and occasionally at select project launches. The region was still smarting from the unexpected loss by their party leader Raila Odinga in the last elections.
The majority of Raila’s supporters strongly believe the elections were rigged by the IEBC chiefs against their candidate. It did not help matters that the commissioners were divided. A section, led by the vice chairperson Juliana Cherera, rejected the results as announced by the chairman, Wafula Chebukati. This lent credence to claims the results lacked credibility.
The Supreme Court would later dismiss the petition by Raila and Azimio. That settled the matter and President Ruto was sworn in. However, the majority of ODM members rejected the outcome. They never quite acknowledged Ruto’s presidency. The warm Nyanza welcome, therefore, served to calm political nerves and set the stage for future cooperation and a new regional alliance.
Earlier there had been the matter of shareholders’ government and the one man one vote crusade. The campaigns only worked to alienate the regions considered ODM strongholds. Instead of making them humble, seeking to ingratiate themselves with the government, the campaigns were counterproductive. The populations in these regions felt neglected and chose to withdraw from active civic responsibilities. On occasion, they would watch with glee at the fallout of some bad government policy. On others they would spite the complaining UDA strongholds.
Politics in Kenya being tribal as always, people got balkanised. If you came from Nyanza and Western, then you were labelled ODM, whether you belonged to the party or not. Likewise, if your forbearers came from Central and Rift Valley, then you were considered a UDA apparatchik and government shareholder. The dichotomy was growing and undermining national stability.
The rejection of the Finance Bill 2024 was thus a blessing in disguise for Ruto. The Gen Z revolt through public protests was threatening to run the government out of town. He reached out to opposition leader Raila Odinga for support to mitigate the deteriorating governance environment. The broad-based government came to be and key members of ODM were included as Cabinet Secretaries. The appointments brought instant rapture to ODM supporters. The protests abruptly stopped and the Gen Z fizzled out of the streets.
Attention suddenly turned to the new government. The economy was and still is in the doldrums. Focus has now shifted to how the new kids on the block will solve the biting economic crisis.
To milk maximum political mileage from the turn of events, President Ruto quickly organised the Nyanza tours. They were billed as development projects inspection. However, the highlight of each inspection and launch of projects was the thanks giving celebrations. Each of the new CSs organised a homecoming party, in Kenyan parlance. These events included elaborate feasting and political speeches by leaders who were carefully selected. Platitudes were heaped on, even as new demands for development projects were made in earnest to President Ruto.
Ironically, Raila did not accompany the President to his political backyard of Nyanza and Western. This had effect of enhancing Ruto’s image as the sole leader of the country. The ODM bastion was made to accept and feel it was in government under one leader.
Raila’s absence also helped to establish a clear line of communication and a united chain of command in Ruto’s government. His presence would have created the need for the celebrants to pay homage to him as their supreme leader. Deftly, he chose to be away and provide the necessary latitude for the President to engage freely with the lakeside citizens.
The party began at Wycliffe Oparanya’s Butere home. It then went to Kisii and Nyamira, then to Migori. The Homa Bay political excursion was poignant and significant. It is the county that has consistently and strongly rebelled against the President in solidarity with its party leader. John Mbadi’s day was arguably the climax of the tour, even though it came a day before the Ugunja fete.
In the meetings, the President reminded residents of his stint as ODM deputy party leader. He Raila’s virtues Raila and how they had worked together. Could he have been pointing to a reunion of the 2007 brigade? Already the government as currently constituted comprises that team, including the emergent youthful PNU youthful leadership.
Of interest to political observers are the true reasons behind the bliss and near fanatical reception of the President. Since his falling out with Raila, he has never been welcome in Kisumu and environs. This time around, the welcome was almost comparable to Raila’s. Plausibly there could be at least three grounds for such an unprecedented reception. It could be out of genuine love for a man Luos consider to be their brother. There has since been widespread talk about the Nilotes of Kenya. The river-lake Nilotes are neighbours with the highland Nilotes.
It might have been considered as a case of the prodigal son returning home. Additionally, Ruto in ODM of 2007 was considered to have delivered more than the other Pentagon members. He brought in the numbers for the vote tally as well the material and logistical resources for the campaigns. The feeling of a debt owed was therefore justified.
The crowds might have also come out in large numbers to demonstrate to the President that he belongs to them more than to the mountain. There is that embrace of reproach given to a brother to show him that he has always been mistaken. They spite you for seeking solace elsewhere. Around the lake, they say your home is the most comfortable and secure, however dirty it is. That one should always be proud of one’s roots and strive to move together with kith and kin in unity and purpose. The rousing welcome therefore could have been a backhanded message.
They were telling the President he deserved the scornful treatment due to his courting of the Mountain. It was also a warning that in the future, he should always carry his people along on political expedition.
The issue of vengeance might have been at play as well. Since the infamous 1966 Limuru Conference of Kanu, there has existed tension between the Kikuyu and Luo ethnic communities. The Luos have always harboured a sense of betrayal. It is understood the betrayal has been repeated several times without care for apologies. The sense of exclusion from the inner sanctums of government has been cemented in the period.
The 1969 oath-takings and systemic elimination of key leaders from Luoland through assassination and political persecution are used to justify this feeling. On the other hand, the sense of entitlement and the superiority complex of the Kikuyu leaders have aggravated matters. Many political decisions of the Kikuyu elite have been made on the basis of the fear and hatred of the Luo. It has been widely argued that they voted for Ruto, not out of love for him but hatred for Raila. That was largely responsible for the massive voter turnout from the mountain region in 2022.
When Ruto turned to Raila as rebellion mounted in Central region, the ODM fraternity felt no sympathy for the Kikuyus. They were experiencing for the first time what Jaramogi and Raila, as foremost Luo leaders, have repeatedly gone through over the years. Therefore, the Luos could have warmly welcomed Ruto as a revenge on the Kikuyus. Importantly, for the country to move forward as a united nation, the political leadership should not ignore these underlying issues. They should initiate policies and actions that would heal the nation from past bad politics.
Political and public policy analyst