Kenya's violent storm and the coming together of strange bedfellows

President William Ruto pays a courtesy call to Former President Uhuru Kenyatta at his Gatundu Home on December 09, 2024. [PCS, Standard]

In his play The Tempest, William Shakespeare opines that “Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows”. The Tempest revolves around romance and forgiveness after a ship on which Alonso, the King of Naples was on board was caught in a violent storm close to an Island where Prospero, who would have been the Duke of Milan was exiled after Alonso conspired with Antonio, Prospero’s brother, to deny the former his dukeship. 

The play bears an uncanny resemblance to our situation today. President William Ruto’s ship, Kenya Kwanza, is caught up in a violent storm in the mountain region. The nearest place he could find refuge is Ichaweri Island where former President Uhuru Kenyatta, against whom Ruto had conspired with Uhuru's brother, Rigathi Gachagua, lives. 

By that happenstance, we’ve ended up with strange bedfellows in the 'lord of poverty',  'prince of corruption',  'cerelac baby' and 'tugeges' who have forged an alliance to oversee the affairs of the 'hustlers'. This raises the red flag because when lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas bury the hatchet and convene a get-together, the antelopes and gazelles must get concerned. 

The crafter of the hustler-versus-dynasties narrative dropped the pretense a long time ago when he realised he was living an illusion and aligned his interests with the dynasties. There was no chance he could beat them when they practically control the means of production and the country’s pulse. 

The latest Cabinet appointments defy several things; regional and ethnic balancing in cabinet appointments, Chapter 6 of the Constitution on integrity while giving a boost to tribalism. In a Cabinet comprising 22 Cabinet secretaries, 10 come from one region. Why then did Ruto sacrifice Gachagua for saying the government operates on the shareholding principle? 

These political appointments are dictated by inherent selfishness in the political class. They have nothing to do with good governance, but more about self-preservation with eyes on continuation of Ruto’s presidency in 2027. This, however, misses the fluidity of politics.

The new assemblage from the mountain region, designed as political insurance, could very well be the last nail in Ruto's coffin. He should be reminded of the fable of the camel that begged to rest his head inside a tent on a hot day and before the owner knew it, the animal had squeezed its humongous body inside the fragile tent, forcing him out. Raila actualised this fable to implode Kanu in 1997.

He is doing it again to implode Kenya Kwanza, and signs that the camel's hump is already past the entrance are there. 

Ruto cannot claim to care about the common man’s interests and general welfare when all indicators point to desperation over the 2027 general elections. How he hopes to fulfill his pledges to citizens through an assortment of people who don't share his ideals and vision beats common sense.

Most of the CSs do not believe in him, have never trusted him until now that he has grudgingly invited them to the feast. Leopards will never change their spots, and putting stripes on a donkey doesn't make it a Zebra. Ruto’s Cabinet is a mongrel if it isn't skunk. 

A maligned Parliament beholden to the Executive now has a chance to redeem itself by rejecting some of these appointments. For once, MPs must demonstrate they can stand up to be counted for something worthwhile. 

From the outset, the hustler narrative and bottom-up economic model appeared to lean towards communist and socialist ideals of a classless society, the promotion of civility, prosperity, justice and the rule of law. With recent developments, however, it turns out this was a con game designed to hoodwink the gullible masses.

It worked, but now, with business moguls running government, we are seeing capitalism in its finest form. It could be the reason Parliament has been dragging its feet in passing the Conflict of Interest Bill.