
Today, Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition have called their scheduled demonstrations for Monday. That happens after the President William Ruto held a Press Conference calling for dialogue. As this is happening on the mere evening ahead of another round demonstrations. It is interesting and we can wonder what’s the bargain here.
We know that Ruto wants to save face, neither the police brutality or the aftermath of demonstrations has served him a favours. It hasn’t strengthen his government or the authorities. Only given Odinga more resolve and reasons to be in the trenches.
Alas, here is the clue and the reason for the fall-back in-line. Odinga has come with several demands. He has fought for the “cost of living crisis” and the “electoral reform”, which the latter has been a steady issue through his career.
Ruto is possibly selling of his Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua just like his predecessor sold him. Instead of showing loyalty or give way to the Deputy. He would step in and offer a bargain to Odinga. That’s what the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) did in 2017.
Now in 2023 we can possibly see the same. This time like Kenyatta. Ruto will give way and create an entity or commission to compose of the ideals of Odinga. Just so Odinga will be busy and “work” on whatever enterprise he see fit. While the Courts might nullify or make the whole process “void” later down the line. That’s what happened with BBI and a second round could be as futile.
However, just like it wasn’t directly futile Kenyatta. It won’t be for Ruto either. His buying piece with few coins of silver and a token promise of “reforms” in return. Odinga feels “special” and gets a “cut of the action”. That’s why he can sleep at night and be “one of them”. It is all it takes and everyone has a “win,win”. Except for the families who has lost people in demonstrations, the ones hurt of skirmishes and the ones who has lost their businesses during the days of protest. They are all scorned and has no return to normal.
When hearing “dialogue”…. I was thinking immediately another BBI. There will be another one of them. This won’t be a “Unity Government” of sorts. No, there are to many hardliners and people who aren’t willing to sell out. Azimio might be cracking and the good vibes are over. Since Odinga like with NASA will just ditch it and leave the other people hanging by thread. That’s what he does when he see his moment to eat.
Ruto gave him a bargain and Odinga took it. The opposition will now pay the price and be offered small pieces of gratitude. They shouldn’t expect loads of goodwill or even favourable offices. Now, these will be created out of thin-air and sound prestigious. Though everyone will know it was done to buy “peace”.
We can just await another “handshake” and “agreement” settling the scores. The Deputy President will feel the pinch of this. Because, he went all out, but he wasn’t the only one. Plenty of the Azimio leaders did too. So, they should feel torn and question it all as well. If not… they are fine with their leader dining with the elites, but the supporters not getting anything from being on the trenches for them. The ones on the streets should wonder what is going on. They took the hardest hit and now their support is for sale, yet again.
Ruto is getting an easy win and Odinga getting some “action”. Peace.













