All together now as Baba, Prezzo UK join uncle Bill's 'broad-based' government

 

When former President Uhuru Kenyatta, now President William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja Co-principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka shared a happy moment in 2013. [File, Standard]

Retired Prezzo Uhuru Kenyatta aka UK is the latest addition to Prezzo Bill Ruto’s “broad-based” government. Once friends-turned-foe-turned-friends again, Prezzo UK is reported to be the architect behind the move to incorporate opposition in government, according to former Prime Minister, now former Opposition leader, Raila Odinga aka Baba.

The twists in the tale from Baba, once derided as “mtu wa vitendawili,” or the man of riddles, who chooses to spin the yarn instead of doing the actual work, was roundly condemned as part of “dynasty,” a coinage that galvanised the underclass in a collective under the moniker of the “hustler” movement during campaigns two years ago.

Baba and Prezzo UK were seen as part of a hegemony of dominant families that had held the country under the grip of their power. Their return as power brokers means the “hustler” government has acquiesced to dynasts in under two years.

Interestingly, this “broad-based” government was precipitated by youth protests that Prezzo UK was accused of formenting.

A similar charge had been levelled against him last year when Baba took to the streets to protest the escalating high cost of living.

Then, as now, Prezzo UK did not respond to the claims, but a family farm on the fringe of the city was invaded and pedigree sheep carted away as police officers watched on, not helplessly, as they did nothing to help, despite being armed to the teeth.

Perhaps they spared their teeth for meat eating, a spectre that was widely reported to have unfolded in eateries along the Eastern by-pass.

A handful of animals, however, were returned to the farm after a group of Mau Mau veterans called in at the founding First Lady Mama Ngina’s Ichaweri home to issue a curse against anyone who looted from the farm.

If that sounds like one of the most powerful families in the land was relying on superstition to defend itself, one needs to remember that the country was “informed” shortly after that Prezzo UK had enough guns to protect himself and his family.

One eventful night, police officers arrived at one of the family’s homes and declared they wanted take some guns away and to arrest the former Prezzo’s son for bearing arms without a license.

So Prezzo UK’s return to the news this week, not as a villain who plots against his successor, as alleged, but as the grand statesman who steadied a sinking ship, heralds a remarkable rehabilitation.

Even though Baba’s accounts do sound like spin of the yarn, offering a variety of explanations that differ according to setting and audience, Prezzo UK has not spoken directly on the matter, leaving allies to weigh in and give their version of the events.

At this point, it is not clear if Prezzo UK will take up a role in the Kenya Kwanza administration—apart from being Baba’s “coalition advisor,” and if this will be construed as participating in active politics and justify the continued withholding of his pension.

Neither is it clear if Prezzo UK and Prezzo Ruto are on first-name terms again. This has been restored between him and Baba, who “confirmed that” William reached out to him for help recently as the nation tottered, following weeks of disruption from the youth.

Baba previously addressed Prezzo Ruto using the widely used moniker, Zakayo, referencing the Biblical tax collector, Zaccheus.

Prezzo Ruto’s administration has been condemned for excessive taxes, even as the economy contracted and more households were pushed into despair.

While a fraction of the Cabinet now appears to emanate from the Opposition ranks, it is not clear if this is a formal power sharing and if Baba might take a more active role in government, besides being an advisor to the Kenya Kwanza administration.