Ethnic oligarchies, not dynasties call the shots

President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga converse during a past event. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The 2018 handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga birthed a hustler-versus-dynasty narrative. According to this narrative, the deal was a ploy by the so-called dynasties; the Kenyatta, Moi and Odinga families--to retain power.