Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei. /SAMSON CHERARGEI/XWhen former long-serving Kanu-era minister Joseph Kamotho once said the party would rule for 100 years, many dismissed the prediction as a delusional prophecy that would never see the light of day.
It was during the clamor for multi-party democracy in the early 1990s when opposition politicians were persistently pushing for an end to single-party rule.
President Daniel Moi would later reinforce the Kanu secretary general's proclamation, saying many would be singing Kanu's name for many years.
Fast forward to January 29, 2025, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei made a similar proclamation made by the long-serving Moi-era minister.
Only that this time, the second-term senator said the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) would be in power for 100 years.
The UDA party, which recently merged with the Amani National Congress (ANC), came to power at the August 8, 2022, General Election with William Ruto as President.
"Chama tawala iko imara kama simba na wheelbarrow, and it shall rule for the next 100 years," Cheraigei said on X.
The senator's proclamation may appear far-fetched, as it was when Kamotho first made a similar prophecy about Kanu nearly three decades ago.
Whereas many dismissed Kamotho's prediction as wishful thinking and "power hangover," considering Kanu's influence was beginning to wane, a keen look at the country's leadership may have vindicated the Kanu loyalist after all.
Upon Moi's exit from office in 2002 after 24 years in power, successive presidents have all been the late President's proteges.
When Raila Odinga dissolved his LDP and joined Kanu, it was in the assumption that Moi would pick him as his preferred successor.
Moi, however, pulled Uhuru Kenyatta from political obscurity and fronted him as the Kanu flagbearer at the December 27, 2002 polls.
Raila ditched Kanu and proposed Mwai Kibaki as the Narc presidential candidate under the Rainbow Alliance opposition coalition.
Kibaki, a former Vice President under the Kanu administration, ruled for 10 years until 2013.
His successor, Uhuru Kenyatta, a former Kanu national chairman and presidential candidate, took over for another 10 years until August, 2022.
Uhuru's successor, President William Ruto, a former Kanu Youth Winger, succeeded Uhuru and is currently in his second year of his first term as President.
Ruto is the UDA party leader, and all indications are that he will likely defend his seat on the same ticket come the 2027 General Eleciton.
Many in the comment section on Cherargei's post dismissed his sentiments on the UDA ruling for 100 years as delusional, but the Ruto loyalist may be unto something if how Kamotho's prediction has panned out over the years is anything to go by.