Kenya: Ruto, the student of Moi – and today his allies issuing are “Moi Era” inspired “decrees”

First the news that the Communication Authority have banned the Media Houses from broadcasting and following the Gen Z demonstrations live. To now the acting Inspector General of Police is banning demonstrations in Nairobi.

The ruthlessness of the government and the ones in power is becoming ever so clear. The pressure and the intense tension is filling the air. The abductions, the killings and continued impunity from the law enforcement isn’t making things better. As bodies and people are swept under a rug.

The ones informing and advising the President must be foolish. They must think people are naive. As they are taking people for granted and thinking this can die down. That the pressure will cease over night and they will accept small tokens or symbolic gestures. Alas, that isn’t the case here.

The President and his associates are under massive turmoil. A sort of fatigue that won’t end softly. Not under the ones who are petitioning their case on the streets. No, these will continue as long as they have too. Because, the relentless actions and publicity stunts aren’t giving them the governance they deserve.

President William Ruto and the Authorities are forgetting who they are serving. They have forgotten who they are supposed to represent. They are accustomed with lying, deceiving and playing for the headlines. However, the next morning they can tap in some tea and some more looting. That’s been the ordinary hustle and bustle. Now the glass is shattered and people aren’t having it.

The National Police Service and the new acting Inspector General better start studying the Constitution, as they have the rights to assemble and the one in charge of the Communication Authority better read up about the rights of media too. Since these gentlemen are thinking they can act above the law and take away the rights of the people. That’s what they are up too.

Just like 109 people was arrested in the middle of the day for being “drunk and disorderly” in the middle of the day in the Central Business District of Nairobi on the 16th July 2024. The ones in power and with monopoly of violence are busy scheming.

Ruto and his allies are losing out here. Instead of getting credibility and legitimacy for its actions. It is instead answering fire with fire, which is never a good idea. The state is now directly criminalizing and penalizing the people for participating in assembling against it. That’s what is doing and they are intending to muffle it or silencing it. This is the end-game as it is hurting the pride of the President.

If Ruto ever looked up to Moi and was his proud student. Surely, the recent use of force, the use of vile impunity and lack of concern of people’s safety would make the late dictator proud. He is seeing his former youth leader of KANU rise to the occasion, as people are abducted and killed for voicing their frustration. Where media is shunned, tear-gassed and the CBD is looking like a war-zone. When civilians with water-bottles and placards are hunted down by lethal law enforcement. All of that would make the master of Kabarak proud.

Well, this doesn’t sound good for the planned protests tomorrow. The state is already aiming and planning ahead. The youth, the Gen Z should be warned. The pink tear-gas is one thing. Now it might be worse. They are already known for using live-bullets. So, they have already tasted blood.

Ruto is a man of violence and his now showing his true colours for the whole world to see. Peace.

Opinion: A Raila pact won’t save Ruto

A Government of National Unity (GNU) between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio won’t resolve the problems at hand. Neither will it give way to the Gen-Z demonstrators. They are on the frontlines and barricades themselves on the streets. It is just furthering the quagmire and ensuring longevity of the political elite.

There is no Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) or such who can change the matters on the ground. President William Ruto is a former President and living on borrowed time. There is no scheme that can change that. Neither is the lawmakers, the representatives of the Parliament or in local assemblies trustworthy either. Therefore, the whole system needs a re-set and not just a mockery of change.

Raila Odinga could try to salvage something and gain a title. Heck, his whole Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) could get a massive say in government. Other allies in Azimio might join him and become cabinet secretaries. However, that’s not what the demonstrators are about and the ODM knows this too.

Ruto will buy time with the negotiations and the talks with Raila. This will be him saving him for the time being and giving him leverage. As he seems to unify and work across the aisle. Nevertheless, its only done to secure power and not out of a quest to listen to the pleas of the streets. No, they are squandered and the President will hope they will vanish so he can jet-set to another foreign destination.

A GNU at this moment of time is made on a false premise. It isn’t made on the needs or the ideals of the leaderless, tribe-less and restless individuals who protests. No, that is made for the elites and to give them more time. That’s what a GNU does…

A GNU will give Ruto an ability to retain some loyal allies and give way to some of Raila’s loyal cadres too. In the meantime things goes back to normal and they will have cabinet meetings ensuring government business goes back to easy-mode. That’s what Ruto wants and Raila will give him that.

This won’t be what the demonstrators or the protesters want. No, this will be what the leaders and the ones in association with Ruto wants. While Raila gets more prominence and possibly buys peace. A way of making himself relevant and getting access to power. Sharing that power, but not essentially listening to the ones in need or the ones who are on the barricades.

That’s what is striking here. It is a bargain for Ruto and a fool would accept that. Odinga would betray his own crowd and for a few coins of silver. That won’t be what the masses wants and he again becomes a tool of the government. Just like he did with the BBI. This GNU will be no different if he accepts the pact and signs the documents.

Ruto will be the victor and gain momentum. It will make him look more pristine and more diplomatic, even if it only to appease creditors and the international community. Because everyone knows this isn’t the answer to the pleas of the people. This is the answer to the IMF and World Bank. That’s it… Peace.

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Kenya: Ministry of Interior & National Administration – The Sanctity of Human Life must be respected (16.07.2024)

Kenya: Statement by His Excellency William Ruto C.G.H., PHD; President and Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces on the Changes in the National Government Executive (11.08.2024)

Kenya: Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) – ODM Statement on National Conversation on Youth Issues (10.07.2024)

Kenya: Law Society of Kenya (LSK) – Law Society of Kenya Position on the Presidential Taskforce on Forensic Audit of Public Debt (05.07.2024)

Kenya: Police Reforms Working Group – Kenya (PRWG-K) – Statement Condemning Violence during recent Protests and Calling for Protection of Civic Space (04.07.2024)

Kenya: Raila Odinga – Criminals Posing as Protestors have to be Stopped (03.07.2024)

Kenya: Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) – Ths is Kenya’s Last Best Chance (02.07.2024)