Is freedom here or is it coming? Make the right choice

Hands lifted up as a sign of freedom. [Getty Images]

Democracy and justice are crucial tenets in post-Uhuru Kenyatta administration as espoused by allies of Deputy President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who are scrambling for the “freedom” mantra.     

While Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya has fashioned the candidature of Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua as a “Mandela Moment”, with reference to South Africa’s iconic freedom fighter, United Democratic Alliance’s (UDA) rivals of Ruto and Rigathi Gachagua are riding on a “freedom is coming” pledge.

The tussle for the democracy and justice tag is neither mistaken nor misplaced. These are the most attractive credentials Kenyan voters are yearning for. Besides individual candidates, issues of importance to voters, including governance, devolution, justice, economy, corruption and plunder of public resources, are on the ballot. This explains why presidential candidates are projecting themselves as reformists and change agents.  

Nonetheless attempts by Ruto’s UDA, to hide behind the global “freedom is coming” chant is not only far-fetched but terribly inconsistent. The credentials of Ruto and his running mate paint them as anti-reformists. Attractive as it may, to compare themselves to the bloody struggles in South Africa, the attempt is fake, laughable and desperate.

There is no denying, though, that the DP has tried hard to reinvent himself and appeal to the electorate. But the hustler populist move, which excludes the middle and upper middle social classes, is unlikely to succeed.  

On the flipside, Raila and Karua, who honed their political careers in the trenches during the one-party state rule, easily come through as the reformists and true freedom fighters. While they may not have teamed up in the same political outfits, they have walked on the same reform path. And this is why democracy and justice will be true winners under Baba and Martha’s regime.

The benefits of embracing tenets of democracy and justice cannot be overemphasized. The absence of the same leads to poor governance and a non-performing economy, corruption, insecurity and other vices. Corruption prevents economic growth through distortion of incentives and market signals, which leads to misallocation of resources. This vice destroys the productive capacity of local talent and entrepreneurs.

But perhaps the most reassuring factor in the Raila-Karua administration is democracy. The two have consistently advocated for devolution and a decentralised system of government. It partly took the 2010 Constitution – which Ruto opposed – to achieve this. Success in future governance is hinged on separation of power and responsibility as captured in the Constitution.

Otherwise, the aping of slogans from down-south will not fly. Even if he ends up as opposition leader, Ruto will have to do more because freedom is not his cup of tea.

The writer is Nyeri deputy governor and Raila’s deputy chief agent