This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's legacy agenda is facing significant challenges, particularly in his efforts to unite the country and change the Constitution. To achieve these goals, he will need to master the skills of a successful polygamist, as demonstrated by his father Jomo Kenyatta.
According to a social media post, President Kenyatta invoked the warrior spirits of old Jomo during a Jubilee parliamentary group meeting at State House, warning MPs that he could unsheathe his spear and spill blood. He has since moved to purge the party leadership in the National Assembly of perceived enemies.
However, managing a large household, as Jomo did, requires exceptional leadership, authority, power, and discipline. President Kenyatta will need to navigate the complexities of his household, including the needs, self-entitlement, personal ambitions, factions, loyalties, conflicts, and jealousies of his partners, including Deputy President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Mr Ruto considers himself the first partner and is entitled to feel he deserves more from the union, while Mr Odinga is the typical retirement partner, currently getting the attention and making others jealous. President Kenyatta has tended to favor Mr Odinga over Mr Ruto in the past two years.
However, at the Madaraka Celebrations at State House, President Kenyatta appeared to finally get his polygamy management right, hosting the event with Mr Ruto and stepping out in matching colors. A video clip of him and Mr Odinga inspecting road upgrades in Nairobi was also circulated on social media, suggesting a newfound sense of unity.
For once, everyone went home feeling loved, and President Kenyatta's ability to manage a polygamous family may hold the key to his success in taming DP Ruto and Raila.
