And Then Five Became One Pentahedron – A Solid Five-Sided Union.

By Dorcas S

It’s official.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto delivered his Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) Party to the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition.

To Mr. Ruto’s credit and unlike coalition formations of yore, this move lacked the drama and skullduggery such unions can be and are typically fraught with. Thus far, we are yet to hear of “madimoni” and supposed “memorandum/s of understanding”. Maybe gunias of money exchanged hands Kabura-style but as it currently stands, Isaac Ruto delivered CCM to the NASA fold Obama-style: Drama-free and in workmanlike fashion.

In the process and much to Jubilee’s chagrin, NASA has fortified its credentials as THE party with a national base, national support AND a national vision. As articulated by both Governor Ruto and Raila Odinga, NASA seeks to “fight for and strengthen devolution and equal distribution of resources” through a platform that speaks to the fears, hopes and aspirations of ALL Kenyans. And given the demographic and regional flavor of the coalition AND the state of nation, there are reasons to be optimistic that the platform is more than flowery and eloquent rhetoric – also of the last four years.

As much as Jubilee would love Kenyans to believe that “wako pamoja”, they are NOT. Neither is the party a national outfit nor one predicated on a national outlook.

Jubilee, much like the Republican Party in America, is an outfit whose existence is driven purely by their dog whistles to the xenophobes and supremacists within their midst; all afraid of their fast-dwindling numerical superiority – think “browning of America”.

The incumbent party continues to appeal to the ethos and steps first laid out by the corrupt authoritarian tribalist Jomo Kenyatta, footsteps that were then followed by the corrupt and authoritarian Daniel Moi and predicated on one thing: their respective base’s fast-dwindling numerical superiority.

Finally, Jubilee’s record of the last 4years is at best, marginal hence its obsession with diversionary bells-n-whistles (“pothole”, dabbing,), faux anger at and demonization of the opposition.

Unfortunately, obvious to all but William S. Ruto’s wing of the “partnership”, the power dynamics between the “partnership” always favored the senior half of the duo – a reality vividly displayed that January 21, 2017 day when Mama met Baba to road-map, not 2017, but 2022.

This is a realization Isaac Kiprono Ruto sniffed out and decided to confront much earlier than most – culminating in this move.

“They” say the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step:

Kenya’s journey towards August 8, 2017 has begun in earnest.
Day 110, Day 109……and counting.