Why some Kalenjin politicians are now fleeing UDA. Shocking | Kenya news

Friday, November 05, 2010

Kwaheri Bwana Ruto

Why is it that cases against suspended higher education minister William Ruto have been held at bay for such a long time and yet suddenly all of them have emerged out of the woodwork and have come back to haunt him big time? Was somebody holding the dogs off all this time and has now gotten out of the way? As it is Ruto is going to be very busy in court cases over the next couple of months (he has at least two major ones locally).
These are just some of the many questions Kenyans are now asking themselves as the Hague finally begins to catch up with some pretty big fish in Kenya (as has been predicted in this blog amid jeering, for a very long time now).

But for my post today I will focus on the lessons those who come after Ruto must take from from the story of this man. Ili iwe funzo kwa wengine. Ruto’s big mistake is that he got way too cocky after killing one giant too many. The first giant who fell to his knees in front of Ruto was one retired President Daniel arap Moi. The Kalenjins take their leaders very seriously and for many years the word of Moi was law in the community. Ruto dared to challenge that and won. His stunning victory for Raila and ODM in the 2007 general elections in Rift Valley will be analyzed for many years to come.

Next he challenged his own ally the mighty leader of ODM Raila Odinga and not only became a thorn in the flesh to Odinga for a long time, but to the surprise of some who worship Raila and believe he is nor ordinary mortal, Ruto did not suddenly fall dead and die (although he has lost a lot of weight since he went against Raila. In the end it was all too much, for the man whose quick road to glory started at the jobless corner near Hilton hotel, and it went into his head. Ruto decided to challenge for the ultimate price, the presidency of the republic of Kenya. According to his calculations he had a good chance to fell the constitution during the recent referendum and that would have uplifted his image tremendously. There was one big problem with the decision. It went against his biggest most powerful and yet secret allies, those close to President Kibaki. That is where the man’s real protection from prosecution had been coming from all along. And shortly thereafter the deal was off. And so it was just a matter of time before things started catching up with the Eldoret North legislator. It was as simple as that.

I am not sure if Ruto also saw the fact that the new constitution if passed was going to dramatically change the politics in Rift valley. The sum effect is that Ruto as self-proclaimed king of the Kalenjin would suddenly lose a lot of his clout. Let me explain. Before the current constitution Kenyan politics was based on constituencies. Boundaries for these were greatly fiddled with by former President Moi. Just to give a single example. Eldoret is divided in such a way as to make sure that all the three constituencies hive off a part of Eldoret town. The motive was to ensure that Eldoret Town was never allowed to be a constituency on its’ own because there has always been enough influence and numbers there to ensure a Kikuyu legislator elected. Now with the counties, although the boundaries are yet to be finalized, you can be sure that there will be plenty of counties within the Rift valley that will be headed by Kikuyu governors. Counties will influence constituency politics and not the other way round. In any event counties will take the focus away from tribes to where it should be, to development efforts and plans within specific counties. In other words the need for a tribal chief like Ruto to “fight for the rights of the community” have been dramatically diminished. Hopefully forever.

Much has been said about the new constitution and many skeptics told us here that it would hardly change anything. I was ridiculed for my child-like enthusiasm during the promulgation of the new constitution. A few weeks later the writing is on the wall. Big fish are facing trial in our courts, as you read this a man is in trouble for holding a woman’s backside without her permission and faces some serious charges (na mambo bado). Let me just say one thing. The written law of the land is a very powerful thing. You can fight for your rights until the cows come home but when there is no written law to back you, chances are you will not have much success. Now everything has changed. The new constitution by itself is a juggernaut trudging forward at increasing speed and it cannot be stopped. Be careful folks even as you enjoy the discomfort of the big fish because even small fish with bad manners like treating women like trash are on very thin ice now.

But then this post is about Ruto so I don’t want to go too far off from the man.

To his credit Ruto has seen trouble coming when it is still very far in the horizon. The main aim of his current expensive trip to the Hague was to give his lawyers an opportunity to feel around and see what kind of evidence Ocampo has against him. He wants to prepare his defense early. And contrary to what some Kenyans are speculating, the International courts at the Hague do not have plea bargain options where you plead guilty to a lesser offence or give the prosecution valuable evidence in return for a lighter sentence.

How close is Ruto to the famous song bird Emily Kosgey? If they are as close as the rumours have it, then he will need plenty of music (like King Saul) to sooth his troubled soul over the next few months or so.

Kwaheri bwana Ruto.

P.S. I predicted in this blog some time back that Ruto would finish Raila politically before his own demise. Well, it seems I was wrong about that one. But then who would have predicted the amazingly unexpected turn of events over the last few months. Who would have predicted that kenyans would have a new constitution long before Christmas 2010? Still my apologies. I was wrong. Umesikia Bwana Phil?

What you and other Kenyans never knew about the Kalenjins

Ruto winds up talks with Ocampo

Kumekucha extra:

1. Sticker being prepared for the exit of Mwai Kibaki reads; End of the 2nd error


2. Only in Kenya......do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.

28 comments:

  1. Kwenda huko Chris!

    Ruto is innocent, clean and has not been convicted in any court of law in Kenya or any other country. He can't even harm a fly. Kwani amekula mbuzi yako? Don't you know Honourable Ruto is a firm and staunch Christian who wakes up at 4AM to pray and occasionally drives himself to work unlike other politicians? Ruto is a self made man who has sweat for his huge wealth. Show me one person he has robbed money and place the evidence on the table! Those saying Ruto is guilty are selfish tribalists who hate the Kalenjins. Watu wapende wasipende, Ruto is coming home soon and The Hague will rightly confirm his innocence. I know Bwana Ruto was named by Justice Waki and KHRC reports as being among the financiers of 2007 genocide. But those findings were flawed, biased and not scientific. All this is a smear campaign by those scared of Ruto winning the 2012 presidential elections. Only the state has monopoly to violence and Ruto is not a state but a decent, humble and loving family man and a leader. Ruto is coming home and will form the next govt! Mezeni wembe! As for Emmy Kosgey, kwani what's wrong with having friends from the opposite sex? Has Ruto broken any law in the new constitution by having Emmy as a good friend? Mmmmm..kwendeni huko you idle gossipers!

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  2. It's not over until is OVER! Ruto is not done yet!
    He will be back!

    Profit MooHamMad

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  3. Do M-Pesa have a crush on Chris?
    Just asking? He seems so much in love with Chris:)

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  4. The person who is in love with Chris is me. How do I get to meet this hunk of a writer for a drink at the very least?

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  5. The truth from my investigations is that Chris has a small clique of women admirers but there seems to be a gate keeper who always deletes our comments here in Kumekucha. Is it not our democratic right to say what we feel and think about our beloved Chris? Or is there somebody jealous who does not want to think for a second that Chris is loved by many women?

    Is talking about our beloved blogger more out of topic than those who bring Ruto stors to a Kikwete post. Chris, please answer.

    All woman

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  6. It is rather curious Chris cannot see naked inconsistencies in his own essay.

    First, you preach to us this:

    "In the end it was all too much, for the man whose quick road to glory started at the jobless corner near Hilton hotel, and it went into his head. Ruto decided to challenge for the ultimate price, the presidency of the republic of Kenya. According to his calculations he had a good chance to fell the constitution during the recent referendum and that would have uplifted his image tremendously. There was one big problem with the decision. It went against his biggest most powerful and yet secret allies, those close to President Kibaki. That is where the man’s real protection from prosecution had been coming from all along. And shortly thereafter the deal was off."

    xxxx

    Surely, what you are telling us is this. We are witnessing SELECTIVE PROSECUTION of Ruto as a punishment by the powers that be.

    xxxxx

    Thereafter, you tell us this:

    "Much has been said about the new constitution and many skeptics told us here that it would hardly change anything. I was ridiculed for my child-like enthusiasm during the promulgation of the new constitution. A few weeks later the writing is on the wall. Big fish are facing trial in our courts, as you read this a man is in trouble for holding a woman’s backside without her permission and faces some serious charges (na mambo bado)."

    xxxx

    In this part, you tell us how things have changed. It does not occur to you in the first part, you have told things remain the same. Talk of being consistent in your inconsistencies.

    xxx

    In summation, in the first part, you tell us we are witnessing a case of selective prosecution against Ruto.

    If not, as an example, tell us:

    (a) was Serena Hotel land not part of Uhuru Park? If so, where is the person still in the Cabinet involved in courts?

    (b) Continental House stands on what was once public land. The land was allocated to someone who is still in the Cabinet. He then, re - sold the land to the Kenyan people. Why is he not in court for fraud?

    (c) The land under Hilton Hotel was public land. It was allocated to someone, who is still in cabinet and then he resold to Hilton. Why is he not in court for fraud?

    In the second part, you tell us things have changed with the arrival of the new constitution. How can there be change if we are seeing selective prosecution?

    More so, if we challenge the land allocations by Moi, where will that leave allocations by Kenyatta and the colonial governments?

    It must follow that, if Moi's allocation of land is null and void, then, those of Kenyatta and colonial government must also be null and void.

    Kenyans are cheering as we dig our own grave. Handling land matters in this casual manner will come to haunt Kenyans later.

    NB: We do not think it proper for the president to have such powers, but, that was how we had it under our constitution that was in force then.

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  7. Chris,
    woiyee pole sana bro.....like Taabu you are sadly plainly mistaken about this whole Ruto affair

    but seriously....how many sugars do you think Ruto takes in his TEA? You know him and Ocampo are agemates and friends?

    They drank hot cups of DUTCH beverage while discussing the names of the lions he saw in Nairobi National Park on his last visit to Kenya

    Remember that 8 month old lion the one adopted by ‘Agwambo’ with the same name? Ocampo told Ruto he also wants to adopt a lioness by the name "Ocambo"

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  8. Ruto just testing waters for Uhuru.

    KKK game at play.

    all in today's papers

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  9. What a wonderful country Kenya would be when Counties will influence constituency politics and not the other way round. In any event counties will take the focus away from - dreaded - tribes to where it should be, to development efforts and plans within specific counties.

    I can't wait for a time when counties will get established, and for the demise - sudden death - of the proverbial title of "our tribal chief" aka the chosen one mtu wetu among so many ethnic communities of Kenya.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    In the meantime, let the chips fall where they may. The die is cast. Where there is found to be evil, the axe must fall.

    To each his own when the Juggernaut Express comes rolling into Kenya, and I look forward to seeing those involved on the wrong side of the trucks carry their own cross without invoking any mantras about their tribe being persecuted or targeted for political reasons.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    BTW is William Ruto the only anointed poster child for what's wrong in government as well as within the rotten world of Kenyan ethnic politics?

    Lest other principle culprits forget, kwa mwenzio kukiungua, kwako kuna teketea.

    This year may seem as the opportune time to hold William Ruto's feet to the fire - and rightly so - but there are going to be other times when more feet will be held to the fire and several of them will burn in the process.

    It's just a matter of time before other notorious big fish are reeled in to face the music at the Hague.

    Time is coming when Kenyans will have to bid many goodbyes to some of the big fish from their regions when the so called tribal wells run dry and the walls of political protection come crumbling down.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is a train. Every cloud does not have a silver linning. sometimes it is hiding a political tornado, hurricane, cyclone, or torrential rain.

    Muru wa Gacii

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  10. Chris it's often said that "English came on a boat". In your case it must've been a very slow boat. I hope you were joking about the etymology of the word politics which, to set the record straight, you will find copy pasted below. It has a long history as you will see but it is not quite Hamurabic.

    The word "politics" comes from the Greek
    word "Πολιτικά" (politika), modeled on
    Aristotle's "affairs of the city", the name of
    his book on governing and governments,
    which was rendered in English mid-15
    century as Latinized "Polettiques".[4] Thus it
    became "politics" in Middle English c. 1520s
    (see the Concise Oxford Dictionary). The
    singular "politic" first attested in English
    1430 and comes from Middle French
    "politique", in turn from Latin "politicus",[5]
    which is the romanization of the Greek
    "πολιτικός" (politikos), meaning amongst
    others "of, for, or relating to citizens", "civil",
    "civic", "belonging to the state",[6] in turn
    from "πολίτης"(polites), "citizen"[7] and
    that from "πόλις" (polis), "city".[8]

    Bobby6Killer

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  11. @ Bobby6killer,

    Thanx for the standard 7 civics lesson. I was in school that day so pls take my comments at the bottom as jokes/tongue in the cheek. I wonder why you did not pick out the first one. Si era is not error, is it?

    To my women fans, there is NO lady gatekeeper in Kumekucha. If you comment got deleted it must have been overboard, if it wasn't, my apologies. I value ALL my readers and fans very much.

    Chris Kumekucha

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  12. Finally I have the freedom to sya it in Kumekucha. Here goes.

    Chris you are HOT!

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  13. How can a sane woman fall in love with an ailing/sickly sixty something old man called Chris aka Kumekucha?
    The wonders of this world never cease to amaze me!

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  14. Chris, your ignorance and intellectual limitation is so obvious it is actually an embarrassment to real African men. Why do you even bother commenting?

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  15. RUTO STAUNCH CHRISTIAN, SO WAS MOI AND HITLER, MEANS NOTHING AND LEGALLY IRRELEVANT. 80% OF KENYA RE CHRISTIANS BUT THEY STILL KILL

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  16. M PESA, I CAN FORWARD YOU THE LINK ON ICC COURT RULING ON KENYA CASE. THE ISSUE IS NOT STATE BUT ORGANISATION, SO THAT YOU SEE HOW NARROWLY THE COURT DESCRIBE AN ORGANIZATION. DOES NOT NEED TO BE A STATE, EVEN OF TWO PEOPLE UNITE WITH THE PURPOSE OF KILLING KIKUYU ACCORDING TO ICC, THAT IS AN ORGANIZATION OF TWO PEOPLE WITH COMMON AGENDA TO COMMIT HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION. READ SOME OF THIS THINGS BEFORE YOU START ROBOKA

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  17. Chris, roger that. As far as the 2nd error for era is concerned it's a pun commonly used for the moi era so I let it slide. The more so since I happen to believe Kibaki's first 5 was so disappointing when it came to zero tolerance on graft that it could be called the 2nd error. Let's see how far the recent war on graft ("they don't deserve to live") will go. He may just save his legacy yet...if Ruto doesn't beat him to it by launching the Samson Option & bringing down the entire cabinet with him.

    Bobby6Killer

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  18. This blog MUST put Raila in a good light if you want more hits.
    Without the goodness of Raila this blog is dead!

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  19. Den Hauge is and will not be a problem to Ruto because the violence starters are well known: The election thieves, the snappy meetings at the hill. These are the real culprits.

    But the home courts will not favour Ruto. He stole alot of money as YK92 youth winger together with Jirongo. All Kenyans should demand this money because it is ours. Ruto got his wealh from this time. Billions of Shillings he stole from us.

    Then the many plots he stole or Moi stole and wrote it on Ruto's name. These are the cases which will finish Ruto, if he doesnt get help from his mentor Moi, the big thief turned Christian.

    Moi and Kibaki will be reluctant to help him because of the public opinion at the moment.

    Moi wants to die a clean death and qualify for a state burial. Kibaki wants to enjoy his retirement before qualifying for a state funeral.

    But let's wait and see. Kenyans from all tribes should not support these thugs. Let's start to get mature today.

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  20. Zenyatta! Zenyatta! Zenyatta! Zenyatta!.

    That's the name on every gamblers' mind and on the lips of every casual sports - horse racing - fan.

    On a lighter note, I will shift gears from the race to the Haque and revert to the $6 million horse race that is expected to be won by Zenyatta.

    Why Zenyatta? Why mention the name on Kumekucha? How did Zenyatta get her name?

    Simply because it's a race horse that was named after Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

    The owners and the world of horse racing may want to stick to their earlier explanations of how the mare was named for Zenyatta Mondatta, album by the Police.

    However, truth be told, the group Police did twist the words Kenyatta and Matata (from Hakuna Matata and settled on the name . Let's ignoret the inclusion of le monde as it's been claimed.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Will the big old mare Zenyatta earn one more come-from-behind-kick left to pass a stout field of some of the world's best racehorses at Churchill Downs?

    Or will Zenyatta retire with a 20-0 record and join the ranks of equine immortals like Ruffian, Personal Ensign, Seceretariat and Cigar?
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    I have never - ever - fallen in love with horse racing, nor have I ever ventured to our very own Ngong Race Course, let alone Kentucky Derby, Pimlico, Hoosier Park, Indiana Downs, Rockingham Park, Meadowlands Race Course, Atlantic Race Course, Saratoga Race Course, Penn National Race Course, Hawthorne Race Course et al.

    I am just one of those wannabe thoroughbred horse race aficianado who gets involved in the heat of the moment.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    May the best mare beat the boys and may the fatest horse bring home the $5 million purse.

    Muru wa Gacii

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  21. "Handling land matters in this casual manner will come to haunt Kenyans later."

    Much closer to the truth than any blather I've seen on this blog today.

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  22. How about, "handling land in this casual manner will come to haunt Kenyans [soon or] later" in the same way the Sahara has countinued to haunt and hunt down humans and the environment in North Africa.

    Why don't land-huggers and land-grabbers ever educate the ignorant masses about the negatives effects on land caused by population growth (over population), cutting the woods for use as fuel, creating cattle grazing lands, bad agricultural practices, urban and construction projects, negligence on part of the local population and the government?

    Land will not be everything to all people if it continues to be abused and wasted in the same manner we have done for the last 100 years.

    Kenyans have been very mistaken in that sphere, where an overly inflated value has been placed on the exploitation of land without replenishment.

    Human beings may live on land, eat from land and trade in land, but they do not own land that has prexisted them for thousands of centuries.

    If ownership of land was so valuable as its projected to be, then Kenyans would not be experiencing the current inequalities that have existed for the last 100 years.

    How comes it's only 1 percent of the affluent population that continues to benefit from the so called land economics? While the rest wallow in abject poverty.

    What's the point of craving for a title deed only to end up living on one dollar a day?

    Come on, let's protect the land and in so doing protect our very own future.

    When will we ever shift our national focus from owning land fot the sake of it and instead learn valuable lessons from the Asian Tigers (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan).

    And, in the process find better ways to grow our economy and address the current inequalities that still exist in Kenya of 2010.

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  23. One down as in William Ruto, twelve more to go down, sooner or later.

    The heat is on!

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  24. @Anon 7.29 a.m why do you sound like some sumerian historian who bores us in this blog!

    The so called Asian tigers have their own problems. The likes of Hong Kong are making life unbearable for inhabitants - isn't Hong Kong owned by the British?.

    How about S.Korea on land matters? The likes of Thailand - maybe on Tourism aspects and concepts. Indonesia - you tell me, coz I know land concepts is a NO! NO! Labour exploitation, i can drill more and more holes.

    All statistics point to Africa man! - this is the continent that is poised to grow faster than Asia, Americas and Europe.

    I do applaud you though, Kenya is making strides brother, moss moss.

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  25. Anonymous said...
    @Anon 7.29 a.m why do you sound like some sumerian historian who bores us in this blog!

    xxx

    That which destroyed once proud Sumer, has destroyed all subsequent civilizations. This of ours is no exception for we are headed in the same direction.

    Thus, the appreciation of the rise and fall of this and many other ancient civilizations is critical to understanding our current predicaments.

    When Sumer became prosperous, via the so called bow tenure of land. Under this system, the farmer was independent whereby, the families managed their irrigated land.

    Under this system of bow tenure, the farmer had an obligation to maintain and employ his weapons in defence of the whole society. You can call this land tax to maintain the "state" led by priests.

    However, as usury (AS IT IS TODAY) was introduced, the farmer started to neglect his farm which led to salination of the land.

    As this went on and on, the bow and tenure system was converted into share - cropping arrangements and then, he became a slave.

    xxx

    When we got independence, we were proud owners of our land, corporations like KPLC, roads, Safaricom, minerals etc.

    Thereafter, we were loaded with usurious debts by the modern Babylon.

    Being unable to pay these debts as was the ORIGINAL plan, we have been forced to become slaves.

    NB: Please ignore the stupidity of those who tell you that, it is just that aids does not work. It works just AS INTENDED. By this we mean people like Dambisa Moyo.

    As a result, the Africans have been forced to give up their land, public utilities like roads, railways, ports, minerals etc to aliens.

    In other words, we are watching a people being enslaved just as Sumerians were enslaved.

    However, since this history is very boring to 21st Century literate illiterate man/woman, what can one say to such people?

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  26. "All statistics to Africa man! This is the continent that poised to grow faster than Asia, Americas and Europe."

    How so? Please educate me for change, if you will. I won't get bored to death.

    I may not be an expert in various fields, but I have been very fortunate enough to travel, work and live for some limited periods of time in Asia, North America and Europe.

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  27. @Anon 3.45 am

    Wacha Kutu bore, what are we to ape in Asia / Europe on Land policy brother?

    I have also been fortunate enough to not only have travelled but worked in Asia and Europe myself.

    Travelled severally to the Americas and nothing doing.

    Like we always say more Amurabic/ sumerian folklore please!

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  28. @ "N"gethe,

    STFU! Boriiiiiiiiing. That was in my class 6 GHC lesson - maybe an interesting read to other illiterate lazy bloggers

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