[h=1]Is there too much Ruto at President Kenyattas side?[/h]
By MAKAU MUTUA
Posted Saturday, April 13 2013 at 17:13
IN SUMMARY
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Nowhere is this truer than with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. In every picture Ive seen since the March 4 elections, Mr Ruto is right behind or beside Mr Kenyatta.
It seems that Mr Ruto has become a fixture at Mr Kenyattas side. Its either that, or the media has conspired to only publish pictures of the duo together. This is particularly true when Mr Kenyatta is meeting key local, or foreign, political honchos.
But Im no conspiracy theorist. In the photos, Mr Ruto is wide-eyed with ears perked up like a peacock. Do the pictures tell a larger story? How long can the duo co-exist?
Methinks I know whats going on. But let me take you down memory lane so you can appreciate this vignette. Legend has it that the late Mbiyu Koinange, Mzee Jomo Kenyattas right hand and bosom buddy, never left the Burning Spears side. But theres more. Minister Koinange the first black Kenyan to obtain a degree apparently always slept alone.
The legend is that Mr Koinange was afraid he would dream out loud and reveal to his wife state secrets that Mzee had told him. Mr Koinange was utterly and completely devoted to Mzee. He was Mzees age-mate, side-kick, and most trusted confidante. They were yoked by tradition. Can the same be said of Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta?
Theres no doubt that the Kenyatta-Koinange relationship was the diametric opposite of the Uhuru-Ruto partnership. First, unlike Mr Koinange and Mzee, Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta are rivals for power. Their political marriage born of necessity and convenience shouldnt be mistaken for love at first sight.
Subordinated himself
If the International Criminal Court is right, the two funded death squads to kill, maim, and loot each others folks. Mr Ruto only subordinated himself to Mr Kenyatta because he couldnt win on his own. Nor did he have good options after falling out with ODMs Raila Odinga.
Only a victorious partnership with Mr Kenyatta a fellow ICC indictee could possibly save the pair from The Hague. It was a strategic alliance.
Mr Koinange wasnt a threat to Mzee Kenyatta. The two were linked by marriage Mzee was Mr Koinanges brother-in-law.
Mr Ruto doesnt share such relations with Mr Kenyatta, let alone social class or ethnic ancestry. In contrast, Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta come from worlds apart. The former is of peasant origin while the latter is a prince.
Mr Ruto deeply covets the presidency, the ultimate prize. Hes shown no compunction about doing anything to get there. Thats why hell watch Mr Kenyattas every move to make sure hes neither betrayed, nor shortchanged. That explains his vigilance in the pictures, and why hes keeping a close eye on Mr Kenyatta. Therell be no daylight between them.
The second reason Mr Ruto will keep a hawks eye on Mr Kenyatta is because of the history of political betrayals in Kenya. Im sure Mr Ruto is aware of the MoU between Mwai Kibakis NAK and Mr Odingas LDP.
Mr Odinga received the short end of that stick. Thats something Mr Ruto will want to avoid between his URP and Mr Kenyattas TNA. Mr Ruto was witness to how Mr Kenyatta body-slammed UDFs Musalia Mudavadi after agreeing in writing to step down for him.
Mr Kenyatta didnt miss a beat as he left a forlorn and jilted Mr Mudavadi at the altar. Finally, Mr Ruto will beware how President Kibaki marginalised Mr Odinga in the coalition government.
Third, political MoUs come asunder over ungoverned ambition, a trait both Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto share. Each will be under pressure from his party and ethnic constituency to deliver chakula. Neither can afford to look weak-kneed or cheated. Mr Ruto will claim rightly that hes the kingmaker.
A 50-50 deal
This is the Sword of Damocles he holds over Mr Kenyatta. The problem is that Mr Kenyatta agreed to a 50-50 deal. Thats an impossible slice for a president to concede. My crystal ball tells me that Mr Kenyatta will recalibrate how to divide the cookie. Ive no doubt Mr Ruto wont get his due share. Take this to the bank power-sharing will be the bane of their relationship.
Fourth, Mr Ruto has been known to wreck political marriages. Talk of biting the finger that feeds you. You know how Mr Ruto turned against former President Daniel arap Moi, his political godfather.
Barely out of his political diapers, the man from Eldoret rudely kicked Mr Moi to the curb and supplanted himself as the Kalenjin kingpin. Then he cannibalised Mr Odinga when he sensed that Jaramogis son was about to betroth and steal the Kalenjin from him.
Dont forget how he toyed with Cords Kalonzo Musyoka, and then joyously joined Mr Kenyatta for a humiliating take-down of the man from Tseikuru. In short, Mr Ruto is cold, calculating and ruthless.
I end where I started. Sooner than later, youll see fewer and fewer pictures of Mr Ruto stalking Mr Kenyatta. Thats because Mr Kenyatta will balk at the image that his is a co-presidency with Mr Ruto.
Mr Kenyatta will shake off the clingy Mr Ruto and stamp the presidency with his own authority. Thats inevitable, and really unarguable. Its what I would do if I was Mr Kenyatta.
But thats also what will infuriate Mr Ruto. My view is that the clock of their divorce will start ticking then. The question is, how soon?
Makau Mutua is Dean and SUNY Distinguished Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School and Chair of the KHRC. Twitter Makaumutua
Source: Nation Newspaper
By MAKAU MUTUA
Posted Saturday, April 13 2013 at 17:13
IN SUMMARY
- If the International Criminal Court is right, the two funded death squads to kill, maim, and loot each others folks. Mr Ruto only subordinated himself to Mr Kenyatta because he couldnt win on his own. Nor did he have good options after falling out with ODMs Raila Odinga.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Nowhere is this truer than with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. In every picture Ive seen since the March 4 elections, Mr Ruto is right behind or beside Mr Kenyatta.
It seems that Mr Ruto has become a fixture at Mr Kenyattas side. Its either that, or the media has conspired to only publish pictures of the duo together. This is particularly true when Mr Kenyatta is meeting key local, or foreign, political honchos.
But Im no conspiracy theorist. In the photos, Mr Ruto is wide-eyed with ears perked up like a peacock. Do the pictures tell a larger story? How long can the duo co-exist?
Methinks I know whats going on. But let me take you down memory lane so you can appreciate this vignette. Legend has it that the late Mbiyu Koinange, Mzee Jomo Kenyattas right hand and bosom buddy, never left the Burning Spears side. But theres more. Minister Koinange the first black Kenyan to obtain a degree apparently always slept alone.
The legend is that Mr Koinange was afraid he would dream out loud and reveal to his wife state secrets that Mzee had told him. Mr Koinange was utterly and completely devoted to Mzee. He was Mzees age-mate, side-kick, and most trusted confidante. They were yoked by tradition. Can the same be said of Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta?
Theres no doubt that the Kenyatta-Koinange relationship was the diametric opposite of the Uhuru-Ruto partnership. First, unlike Mr Koinange and Mzee, Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta are rivals for power. Their political marriage born of necessity and convenience shouldnt be mistaken for love at first sight.
Subordinated himself
If the International Criminal Court is right, the two funded death squads to kill, maim, and loot each others folks. Mr Ruto only subordinated himself to Mr Kenyatta because he couldnt win on his own. Nor did he have good options after falling out with ODMs Raila Odinga.
Only a victorious partnership with Mr Kenyatta a fellow ICC indictee could possibly save the pair from The Hague. It was a strategic alliance.
Mr Koinange wasnt a threat to Mzee Kenyatta. The two were linked by marriage Mzee was Mr Koinanges brother-in-law.
Mr Ruto doesnt share such relations with Mr Kenyatta, let alone social class or ethnic ancestry. In contrast, Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta come from worlds apart. The former is of peasant origin while the latter is a prince.
Mr Ruto deeply covets the presidency, the ultimate prize. Hes shown no compunction about doing anything to get there. Thats why hell watch Mr Kenyattas every move to make sure hes neither betrayed, nor shortchanged. That explains his vigilance in the pictures, and why hes keeping a close eye on Mr Kenyatta. Therell be no daylight between them.
The second reason Mr Ruto will keep a hawks eye on Mr Kenyatta is because of the history of political betrayals in Kenya. Im sure Mr Ruto is aware of the MoU between Mwai Kibakis NAK and Mr Odingas LDP.
Mr Odinga received the short end of that stick. Thats something Mr Ruto will want to avoid between his URP and Mr Kenyattas TNA. Mr Ruto was witness to how Mr Kenyatta body-slammed UDFs Musalia Mudavadi after agreeing in writing to step down for him.
Mr Kenyatta didnt miss a beat as he left a forlorn and jilted Mr Mudavadi at the altar. Finally, Mr Ruto will beware how President Kibaki marginalised Mr Odinga in the coalition government.
Third, political MoUs come asunder over ungoverned ambition, a trait both Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto share. Each will be under pressure from his party and ethnic constituency to deliver chakula. Neither can afford to look weak-kneed or cheated. Mr Ruto will claim rightly that hes the kingmaker.
A 50-50 deal
This is the Sword of Damocles he holds over Mr Kenyatta. The problem is that Mr Kenyatta agreed to a 50-50 deal. Thats an impossible slice for a president to concede. My crystal ball tells me that Mr Kenyatta will recalibrate how to divide the cookie. Ive no doubt Mr Ruto wont get his due share. Take this to the bank power-sharing will be the bane of their relationship.
Fourth, Mr Ruto has been known to wreck political marriages. Talk of biting the finger that feeds you. You know how Mr Ruto turned against former President Daniel arap Moi, his political godfather.
Barely out of his political diapers, the man from Eldoret rudely kicked Mr Moi to the curb and supplanted himself as the Kalenjin kingpin. Then he cannibalised Mr Odinga when he sensed that Jaramogis son was about to betroth and steal the Kalenjin from him.
Dont forget how he toyed with Cords Kalonzo Musyoka, and then joyously joined Mr Kenyatta for a humiliating take-down of the man from Tseikuru. In short, Mr Ruto is cold, calculating and ruthless.
I end where I started. Sooner than later, youll see fewer and fewer pictures of Mr Ruto stalking Mr Kenyatta. Thats because Mr Kenyatta will balk at the image that his is a co-presidency with Mr Ruto.
Mr Kenyatta will shake off the clingy Mr Ruto and stamp the presidency with his own authority. Thats inevitable, and really unarguable. Its what I would do if I was Mr Kenyatta.
But thats also what will infuriate Mr Ruto. My view is that the clock of their divorce will start ticking then. The question is, how soon?
Makau Mutua is Dean and SUNY Distinguished Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School and Chair of the KHRC. Twitter Makaumutua
Source: Nation Newspaper
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