Rift Valley should be wary of Ruto’s attempts to control region’s destiny

I am writing this open letter although I know you – the Kalenjin – aren’t a true nation. That’s because British imperialists made up the Kalenjin into a “tribe.” In order to divide and conquer, the British amalgamated African sub-groups into “tribal” identities.

Take solace because you aren’t the only “tribe” invented by the wily Brits. The Luhya suffered a similar fate. My point is there’s no “there there” with the Kalenjin. Your pre-colonial nations — Elgeyo, Kipsigis, Marakwet, Nandi, Pokot, Sabaot, Terik, Tugen, and Sebei — had little in common before British conquest. Your political elite took over when the British left and have since fully coalesced you into a political machine. It’s in their interest that you think – act – like a herd.

I am not gratuitously singling you out. The eighteen Luhya sub-groups —Wanga, Bukusu, Maragoli, Banyala, Banyore, Batsotso, Gisu, Idakho, Isukha, Kabras, Khayo, Kisa, Marachi, Marama, Masaaba, Samia, Tachoni and Tiriki— were a disparate lot before colonial rule. But they too — like the Kalenjin — have been panel-beaten by their political elite to cast in stone the British concoction.

I submit that it’s these ethno-political identities, many of which have a genesis in colonialism, that are the bane of the Kenyan state. We can’t truly cohere into a single nation-state when colonially-forged tribal political consciousness trumps our loyalty to the nation. More so when political leaders are ethnic charlatans who thrive only because of the tribe. They prey on our divisions.

I am telling you this because you are now caught up in a war of supremacy between the two Rutos. URP’s honcho William Ruto is squaring off with Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto. Since Mr Ruto turned on his political patron former President Daniel arap Moi — and emerged as the Kalenjin kingpin — he’s moved with dispatch to stamp his authority on the Kalenjin Nation. He wants every Kalenjin to sing after him — like a parrot.

He believes that he’s got no chance of succeeding TNA’s Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya’s CEO if he can’t bundle every breathing Kalenjin into a single ethnic voting bloc. He may also be contemplating ditching Jubilee, or JAP, and challenging Mr Kenyatta in 2017.

In either scenario, Mr Ruto needs the Kalenjin to line up solidly behind him. That’s why the wily operator from Eldoret is leaving nothing to chance. He must overcome several obstacles. The first is his crimes against humanity case at The Hague-based International Criminal Court. No one knows how that will turn out. But the case has already been a boon for him. The Hague helped him whip the Kalenjin into a single file and led to his inexplicable alliance with Mr Kenyatta to form Jubilee. His conviction at The Hague would bring his political career to a screeching halt and free the Kalenjin Nation from his vice-like grip. But his acquittal would make him a mythical figure.

Mr Ruto’s other challenge is his namesake, the Bomet Governor. Both Rutos go way back when they served as ministers in former President Moi’s Kanu regime. They are both in URP and Jubilee. But every Kenyan knows the two can’t stand one another. Governor Ruto is spoiling for a fight. He sees himself as the democrat who can free the Kalenjin Nation from DP Ruto’s vice-like grip.

Governor Ruto seems likely to work with communities outside Jubilee or JAP to supplant DP Ruto within the Kalenjin Nation. Or at least destroy DP Ruto’s grip on the Kalenjin. DP Ruto is worried, and has recently ratcheted up direct and proxy attacks on Governor Ruto.

Mr Ruto believes that the Gikuyu Nation — TNA’s backbone — would dump him if he becomes damaged goods among the Kalenjin Nation. His utility to Mr Kenyatta would be zilch. The formation of JAP, which is seen as TNA on steroids within the Kalenjin Nation, has given Governor Ruto a hammer against DP Ruto. So has Jubilee’s bait-and-switch on devolution.

My crystal balls tells me that DP Ruto may soon be toast if he escalates his attacks on Governor Ruto. The Kalenjin Nation doesn’t really believe that TNA will return the favour and support DP Ruto as Mr Kenyatta’s successor. DP Ruto has to contend with Kanu in his backyard. Kanu could put a final nail on his political coffin.

Finally, I want to appeal to my Kalenjin brethren. Don’t believe those who say your own must always be either numero uno or numero dos. Kenya has at least 40 other nations besides the Gikuyu and the Kalenjin.

It’s time for the others to have a bite of the apple. There’s no bar to Kalenjin or Gikuyu CEOs into eternity. But that’s not how you build a single nation. It’s not good for the Kalenjin Nation. It’s not good for Kenya.