By Dorcas S
So, the narrative forever internalized by die-hard adherents of Uthamakism is that they are “afraid of a Raila presidency” – for a host of ever-changing reasons. This fear then leads to the feeble rejoinder that “Raila will never be president” – regardless!
So using this logic AND the fact that Raila’s core base is in Nyanza (Kisumu), one would expect President Uhuru Kenyatta’s (recent) visit to Raila’s stronghold – Kisumu – to draw scant interest, indeed be met with “shouts of mawe (stones) by those ‘stone-throwing’ Lakesiders”.
Well if the turnout and comportment of the crowd that greeted Mr. Kenyatta when he attended the National Drama Festival in Kisumu is indication of “Luo Nyanza’s ‘immaturity’ and ‘violent’ tendencies”, then the “afraid of Raila” narrative is completely disingenuous and utterly played out.
In fact, said narrative is the proverbial red herring i.e. a ploy or announcement (‘fear’ of a Raila presidency) intended to mislead or distract from relevant or important issue/s (refusing a 2nd term for the corrupt Jubilee duo) to an incorrect conclusion (Raila will never be president).
Even more troubling, the narrative brings to mind the psycho-analysis term “Projection”: A phenomenon first identified by Sigmund Freud and theorizes that humans (Uthamakists) defend themselves (and their leaders i.e. digital duo) against internalized and subconscious oftentimes negative impulses (i.e. support of kleptocracy and its corollary impunity) by denying or minimizing their existence while attributing it to others (i.e. that Raila, Kalonzo, Weta etc. are ‘also’ corrupt).
The fact is Uthamakists push the narrative that they are “afraid of a Raila presidency” to deflect from THEIR bigoted reasons for not supporting a man who while far from perfect, will expose and hold accountable the kleptocratic ways of Kenyatta & Ruto and of their supporters.
Raila CAN be president if fair-minded Kenyans of goodwill vote based on the issues they say concerns them:
– Corruption & Impunity,
– Economy & Cost of living,
– Security,
– A more united Kenya.
