By Anderson Ojwang
The Kenya’s opposition could be enjoying a sweet slumber as President William Ruto digs in with his re-election agenda for the 2027 presidential contest.
Ruto has rolled out an elaborate re-election packages targeting various vote blocks and constituencies while the opposition is yet to get its vehicle roaring.
The united opposition that comprises of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Nark-Kenya leader Martha Karua, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, impeached deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and former cabinet minister Fred Matiangi are yet to present significant campaign agenda to the electorates apart from the wantam mantra.
If anything, the opposition is giving Ruto a field day with only 24 months to the elections and the president is reaping heavily from the indecisiveness , confusion and lack of focus and agenda to entrench himself in the electorates.
Ruto has often taunted the opposition to be lacking agenda to present to the electorates and that they may find it hard to defeat him at the ballot.
The broad based government and its impact
The departure of the opposition cog, ODM leader Raila Odinga to form a broad based government deflated and removed the momentum from the opposition despite the wave of Genz that had threatened to cut short president Ruto tenure.
In Ruto’s dream campaign trolley is the broad based government where he has been able to bring on board Raila and through this has steadied his once sinking boat sail deep into the water and dock without any serious storm.
Raila recently said “We sacrificed so that there could be peace in this country. And that is the reason we are here today. I don’t regret what we did. We did it in the best interest of our country and Kenya must move forward.
We have sat together and reviewed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) we signed this year and now we have put together a framework to ensure the MOU is implemented to the letter.
I want to say to the naysayers give us space and room. Judge us in 2027. And we have said this is going to remain in place up to 2027 and after that we see where we go to.”
Ruto said through the broad based government they have been able to bring together all communities, regions in an inclusive manner into one administration that does not look and seek to preserve any leader but to preserve the stability of Kenya, ‘because of the coming together , under broad based government , because of Raila Odinga working with me to put together this broad based government, Kenya has a date with destiny.
The opposition Wantam mantra
The opposition has been riding on the mantra and hype of wantam that has become popular in most of country’s social and political gatherings in hope to win the next presidential election.
Gachagua recently said “We are part of this team and will walk this journey together to liberate this country. We will make whatever sacrifices necessary to make sure William Ruto is a one-term president.
“The government he leads is a one-man show; he wants his way and all those ministers you see there are flower girls. I was the only one who could stand up to him and say, hey boss, this can’t work. It is a praise-and-worship choir and I could not fit in it.”
But Ruto has said he will not be deterred by “incompetent, clueless and corrupt” people attempting to divide Kenyans along ethnic lines.
Raila also joined the fray saying “ You are saying wantam (one term). So what? It is the Kenyans who will decide the terms and we will see where we want to go. I am confident when that time comes we will face Kenyans squarely and tell Kenyans why we did what we had to do and where we want to go”.
The affirmative action plan
President Ruto has devised a strategy that target Raila’s strong holds in the country that were previously ignored through in terms of development through affirmative action.
For instance, last week while in Nyanza, he announced that for Nyanza to be at par with other regions that have benefitted from the government support, he declared an affirmative action for the region on development and economic growth.
While in Homa Bay today, leaders here have asked that we focus on the development of the nation and we focus on the development of this county.
Let me commit that we have provided in this year’s budget enhanced resources for the development of thus county. I am aware that this county and this region requires affirmative action.
Because for a very long time this region has not benefited from the resources and development of our country as other regions have.
Previously while in tour of the coast region he had also declared affirmative action for the region.
Establishment of a framework to compensate victims of demos
President Ruto last week announced the formation of a new government framework to compensate civilians and security personnel who suffered injuries or lost their lives during demonstrations and public protests in Kenya since 2017.
In a presidential proclamation issued on Friday, Ruto said the initiative aims to balance constitutional freedoms with civic responsibility, while addressing the human and economic costs of political unrest.
Raila in response welcomed the formation of the framework saying “We have sat together and reviewed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) we signed this year and now we have put together a framework to ensure the MOU is implemented to the letter.
This is going to happen, those who have been maimed, injured and died will be compensated from 2017 to date.”
This is another fertile platform by Ruto and Raila that is likely to endear them to the electorates.
Formation of Youth empowerment program to contain Genz surge
Stung by the power, creativity, resolve and commitment by the Genz, Ruto went back to the drawing board on how best to onboard the new determiners in the country’s politics. The new voice of the opposition and reasoning in the country.
The strategy was the formation of youth empowerment to address exploding unemployment in the country.
That is why thousands of enthusiastic young men and women from Nairobi County braved the early morning chilly weather to attend an empowerment program hosted by President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, on Saturday.
Drawn from 1,115 groups from Nairobi County’s 17 constituencies, they received various types of equipment from the President to start or boost their income-generating activities.
Each group received equipment according to the request they had made. For example, 380 groups benefitted from 380 tents and 38,000 chairs, with each getting a tent and 100 chairs.
The football mantra
President using the ongoing CHAN tournament to reach out to the hearts of the football fanatics by rehabilitating the two international stadiums, Kasarani and Nyayo.
The support to the national team, Harambee stars and the price awards by the president is resonating well with the players and the supporters. His presence in the stadium, to stand with the national team, that is making history is a plus to Ruto in his re-election strategy.
The opposition have also come out to support the national team verbally with no significant material contribution to the players.
Opposition slumber and reliance on Gachagua
The opposition is yet to wake up and may be caught napping as time is running out to roll out their campaign agenda.
The absence of Gachagua, who ha been in the tour of USA for the last one month has created a lull and no activities in the opposition.
The rallies have come to a screeching halt, Kalonzo and Matangi have been missing from the action. This has left room to Ruto to roam and galvanize his vote block. The precedent setting is making to the opposition to be a one man guitar agenda, without Gachagua, the opposition seems dead.
The question will the opposition seize the opportunity to make Ruto wantam president or will Ruto have the final last over his impeached deputy?
