Kenyan dirty politics: The 'Lord of poverty' versus The 'High Priest of corruption'

The sugar deal that was supposedly entered by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Ugandan counterpart President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is plunging the politicians into head spins as they try to outdo each other from the scene through vernomous verbal exchanges.

The latest episode that has captured my attention is the spat between the Deputy President Wlliam Ruto and the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. This actually happened after the latter led a strategy meeting with members of the opposition over the weekend where he referred to Ruto as the ‘High priest of corruption in Kenya’, a slur that generated heat and weight in equal measure in Jubilee coalition.

The Jubilee Mps came breathing fire and accused the former premier of killing the Sugar industry with debts, thereby calling him ‘The Lord of Poverty’. The Deputy President has come out to say that the former Prime minister orchestrated his move because he was protective of the sugar barons.

It is indeed very saddening that even on issues of national importance, the opposition and the government can’t hold their horses and sober up to address the underlying challenges that are crippling the sugar industry.

I remember some few years ago, buying a kilo of sugar at Sh. 240, it pains me because the leaders are not talking to themselves on the way forward. They are rather talking at each other. What purpose does it serve for them to exchange litany of accusations? The other leaders should not be a cheering squad, fueling rift when what is needed to be done is missing is terrible institutional failure.

Further, the opposition should learn to be objective when it comes to issues of national importance. It is not about Kung Fu or Karate but it is about what is supposed to be done. Being an expert in name calling, doesn’t make you genious, it rather depicts you as person with narrow ideals.

The challenges our society is going through is enormous, it needs concerted efforts from both the opposition and the government to provide a framework and an environment to facilitate effective service delivery.

The leaders should now put ceasefire to their incessant bickering and work.