Sir, I hope this letter finds you well.
It is just over a week since you signed a deal with President William Ruto. What informed your decision to sign a deal with a non-reformist?
Your gut instinct doesn't want this deal, and yet, you can't help it but sign a deal with someone who has never shown any reform credentials for the country.
President Ruto is as non-reformist as they come. He is as corrupt as they come. He didn't campaign on issues. He campaigned on the basis that a Kalenjin had supported a Kikuyu, and now it was time for the Kikuyus to support a Kalenjin. That's how President Ruto came to power. At least you enjoy more support geographically than President Ruto. The thing is President Ruto saw the Kikuyus — through Rigathi Gachagua — had exited, and so decided to bring you in. What are you going to get from this deal since you are a nationalist, a known reformist?
Sir, the deal you have signed with President Ruto is about positions, not service delivery.
It is about which of your friends is going to get the bigger cake. We have seen the budget committee changes; your buddy Sam Atandi is now the Budget committee chair. When are we going to fight for the common Kenyan when all we want are positions?
The fact is that Kenyans are yearning for change. We need the cost of living to come down. We need the cost of healthcare to come down. We need the fee bands of universities brought down. We need zero tolerance on corruption. We need infrastructural development. President Ruto is all about the semantics, that he will do, that he will look into it. Look at the projects he is launching, they have no bearing on people's livelihoods. We need you to return to your true calling: Serving the people of Kenya.
Sir, I know maybe you have reached a place where you have said that if all rivers flow to the ocean, why attempt and change the course of the river? That is you have decided to be a status quo candidate.
How is it that you are going to bed with someone you think openly stole the election from you? How is it you went into bed with Kibaki when you thought he stole the election from you?
How is it you went to bed with Uhuru when you thought he stole the election from you?
Why have you been giving these guys legitimacy?
The point is that President Ruto is the weaker player here, you are the stronger player. Why does he want to use your numbers?
It's really unfortunate sir that Kenyans don't get to be served by you. But I believe it is better a million times to stand by the truth no matter how much power you could have that comes with being compromised.
Sir, if it's about occupying your time, you could have considered being a visiting lecturer at one of our universities so our students, the GenZs, know leadership perspectives from firsthand experience.
You could have written books to explain the state of leadership in the country. You could have founded the Raila Odinga Leadership Institute. You could have endowed Raila Odinga professorship chairs in our universities so our young could truly learn how leadership works. You could have been a peace envoy in Kenya, if not Africa.
I know that Kenya is a deathbed for progressives, and always favors non reformists. But someday sir, the higher angels will win, and we will be led by only people of the highest ideals, the most reform minded amongst us, the most visionary amongst us.
I can safely say that Kenya has lost at least 50 years of development by rejecting you as President. I'm not sure if we can recover that with the present charlatans in office. Dust yourself up and return to the football field. Never say never, and contest for the 2027 election.
Ruto has lost the entire Mt Kenya vote, that's 3.5 million votes. You have not lost any constituency. President Ruto is way below your league, don't let him dictate terms to you. Buckle out of that coalition agreement, it serves no purpose at all, for you and millions of your supporters, and strategize for a grand entrance to State House in 2027.
Yours sincerely,
Collins Mabinda
@cmabinda
