The fact that dozens of politicians, elected officials and civil servants made a trip to Ethiopia as a cheering squad for a has-been politician vying for one of the most prestigious positions on the African continent was an incredible embarrassment.
Before we address the logistics of all these people who went to Addis Ababa and who footed the bill, let us address the elephant in the room. The fact that our President thought it was a great idea to parade an 80-year-old politician who has never held an elected post other than Member of Parliament in his own country is unfathomable. A man who has been denied by his own people over and over again. A man without a real legacy.
Now don't get me wrong, everyone has their part to play in life. Raila Odinga might have been a crucial player in the abolishment of one-party leadership in Kenya as well as the downfall of authoritarian regimes, but it doesn't mean he is meant to be a leader. Not every pawn in a game of chess is meant to checkmate the king. Not every soldier in a war is meant to be the king.
If Ruto's decision to endorse Raila wasn't bad enough, it was opposed by the Kenyan people themselves, who took it upon themselves to let the whole continent as well as the African Union know that they did not support their own candidate. Now imagine being a President walking into a room full of African leaders, who know how well just how much your own people are opposed to your governance.
I just saw a video of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta being hugged and welcomed like an old friend by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. They sat and talked, laughing and relaxed like old buddies. As a person who is very familiar with German culture, it was easy to tell that this was not very German-like behaviour of Steinmeier. Which goes on to tell that there is a certain level of friendship and ease the two heads of state share.
I have seen many videos of President Ruto with other heads of state. I have never seen one that had that level of charm and ease. I have seen him be jolly with several African leaders, but those same leaders turn around and make scathing remarks about their ‘neighbours’ whenever they want to take shots at the state of our country.
Now, let's rewind to the elected officials and civil servants who made the trip to Ethiopia to hold hands and sing Independence songs from the sixties for a non-government official. While the whole circus was an ignominous spectacle, the main question is: who funded it, is it the taxpayers? If so, then what was the justification of the whole trip? Especially after losing to a man who showed up with two other people in his whole party!
It's no surprise that we have become a joke to other countries. The people of Kenya keep voting for the same old faces, who do nothing but loot and make a spectacle out of everything. Then they spend the next five years complaining and demonstrating against bad governance. The same one they voted in!
Unless we buckle down and really mean business at the next ballot, we are in for a rerun of the same sh*tshow every time we have a ‘new’ government with the same tired old faces.
