Risk of Mt Kenya battle of vibes

President William Ruto is having what his media team is projecting as a successful tour of the Mt Kenya region, characterised by big crowds and packed with the opening of a succession of important development projects, testament to the government’s hard work and proof the political reality that the President has beaten back the political rebellion led by impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

He is back to being, to quote the Daily Nation’s rather brave headline, ‘King of the Mountain’. There are, of course, many alternative, skeptical views which I choose not to explore now. But I will sound a cautionary note that, in general, it is not a good idea for one to buy too deeply into one’s own marketing vibe so as not to diverge too bigly (after President Trump) from reality.

There is a big danger to the political class of conflating popularity with the assemblage of procured crowds, development with photo sessions in mildewed village classrooms, and the whole business of government with the giving of things to the people as a transactional means of purchasing their votes. Again, there was excellent reporting of this in the Daily Nation this past week. 

For the avoidance of doubt, a reconciliation between the President and his mountain constituency is absolutely important for the nation’s stability and prosperity.

The alternatives we have seen being breathlessly touted in popular blogs are too horrible to contemplate. President Ruto, perhaps more than any other president since Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi, appears keen on a long reign of personal, rather than overly collegial democratic rule.

It is only natural that he will go to great lengths to secure re-election and avoid the ignominy of becoming Kenya’s first one-term President.

There have been fears of the Mungiki, a notorious group of bloodthirsty criminals, taking root in the Central region once again.

There have also been fears of the return of Al Shabaab in Nairobi, destroying the momentum of progress, not to mention lives and property.

Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale has argued for giving refugees from Somalia Kenyan citizenship which would allow them to vote in elections.

In some quarters, this is being seen as vote rigging wrapped in a cloak of altruism. Personally, I don’t know whether it is fair to ask me to grow beans to pay taxes and support foreigners whose leaders are traversing the capitals of North Africa and the Middle East playing Bismarck while their people are suffering in the bush.

I would support a process of naturalisation for all in accordance to our laws but not tied to elections. 

A few ODM leaders have enthusiastically supported the idea of isolating the Mt Kenya community, at times fairly pointing to the region’s sense of entitlement having produced three of Kenya’s five Presidents and the fat largesse that they have enjoyed.

Kenya’s tribalised State, which has marginalised some communities, such as those from the former Northern Frontier District, and unfairly benefited others, particularly Mt Kenya and Rift Valley, is completely untenable and is the reason for the introduction of devolution. 

Punitively isolating one community is not the solution, though, supporting a system of equity, is. The prospect of voter suppression – almost always accompanied by violence, death and destruction - and the balkanisation of the country along ethnic lines or the disfranchisement of Gen Zs is not going to work, neither will outright vote rigging.

Personally, I don’t think favouring Mt Kenya with development to curry favour is a sustainable approach, either. 

All Kenyans would benefit from a prudent management of the economy: Everybody pays their fair share of taxes, the government pays its bills predictably and on time and every coin is spent on the intended use.

Policy is carefully evaluated, by experts and professionals trained and experienced to do so, the public good and the interests of ALL Kenyans are prioritised in all allocative decisions. 

Under such a regime, all citizens, not just Mt Kenya, would get classrooms, roads, electricity, dams and so on.

Right now, some parts of Mt Kenya are struggling with cancer and lifestyle diseases. In nearly all parts, the quality of education has gone down.

Parents are still puzzled by the new curriculum which requires them to spend half the night doing stuff with their children.

A national investment in health and education would be to the benefit of all Kenyans. A respect for the rule of law and the rights of citizens, a complete intolerance for corruption and incompetence, upholding merit and professionalism would improve the quality of life and delivery of services.

I know politicians love being on the road, with the people but, personally, I don’t think the President ought to be on top of his vehicle punishing his body with the mountain cold.

He should be in the warm boardroom driving the bureaucracy to serve the people. Let his media people figure out a means to spin that.

mmutuma@Steward-Africa.com.