This archive report was first published on 11 August 2019.
August 11, 2019
Kenya's local politics remains volatile two years after the annulled 2017 general election, with friendships turning into rivalries and alliances shifting.
Deputy President William Ruto, once a close ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta, has been complaining about the 'excesses of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.' This is a stark contrast to his earlier portrayal as the 'dynamic duo' with his boss.
DP Ruto's recent outbursts have sparked concerns among his lieutenants that Central Kenya, Mr. Kenyatta's backyard, is slowly turning its back on him despite his efforts to bolster his State House bid in 2022.
Former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once observed that a week is a long time in politics. In Kenya's case, two years can be a decade or more.
Tables have turned, with most of those who made a career out of attacking Opposition chief Raila Odinga forced into submission. Others have stuck with the DP, while another group remains caught up between the two centers of power.
On Saturday, Mr. Odinga acknowledged that the peace pact with the President on March 9 last year had redrawn the country's political script but was quick to point out that it was all for the better.
“Generally, we are where few expected us to be. The general expectation was that it would be chaos, standoff, and rage all the way to 2022; and that was going to give way to a divisive and possibly chaotic elections,” Mr. Odinga told the Sunday Nation.
He said that digging in would have driven the country further to the precipice and caused more suffering to everyone and possibly even a claw back of some of the progress the country had made.
As the political landscape continues to shift, Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju has defended Mr. Odinga against accusations that he was out to break up Jubilee. This is a rare moment of honesty from a politician that also captures the fact that for politicians, it is never about the interest of the voter.
“I hope no single Kenyan should risk his or her life for a politician,” Mr. Tuju said.
The Kenyatta-Odinga rapprochement has triggered realignments in the major parties, with ODM MPs becoming perhaps more pro-government than some of their Jubilee counterparts.
As the country navigates this new political reality, one thing is clear: politicians are skating on thin ice as alliances shift.
