Uhuru Kenyatta is set to become the fourth president of Kenya in an election that smirked of too many similarities to the bungled 2007 presidential elections. But if you are a Jubilee coalition supporter hold off your order for that cold Tusker and don’t even think of putting those goat ribs over a charcoal fire just yet because there are too many uncertainties that still linger in the air.
In a previous post I had already pointed out many of the question marks that have to be scribbled at the end of most paragraphs recording the major events of the last five days. Yep it was only five short days but why is it that to many Kenyans it seemed like an eternity?
When those who like to analyze how presidential campaigns are won sit down to figure out how the son of Jomo did it, one name will have to feature prominently. That of William Ruto, his running mate (pictured above, on your right, with Uhuru) and now deputy president-elect. Those who know this man who barely 20 years ago used to hang out at “jobless corner” (a hangout for hungry frustrated job seekers that is opposite the Hilton hotel in Nairobi) will tell you that he is a crafty political player who is not even trusted by the supporters of the president elect. How he even successfully put together the two main warring tribes in the 2007 elections together still baffles many. This blogger predicted many times that the alliance would not hold and that he would never deliver Kalenjin votes with the wounds of the last elections still unhealed. But not only has it held together but it has managed to win Uhuru a mind boggling share of the massive Rift Valley vote against all expectations.
It would have been nice to have had a non-controversial credible election to see how this contest would have really turned out. As it is we will never know because whatever happens next the circumstances have changed drastically and forever.
One of the most fascinating aspects to come out of this election is the reaction of many people in Nyanza to the results. Many are blaming Raila for not having a clear strategy in his entire campaign and repeated references are being made to the CORD nominations which went badly wrong in Nyanza with what most people saw as a deliberate attempt to try and force candidates on them.
However observant political analysts will sympathize with Raila who has been on almost permanent campaign mode since 2002 and probably earlier. Fatigue and exhaustion were clearly visible in him during the campaigns and there is no doubt that this greatly affected his bid this time round. In many public meetings his voice sounded hoarse and tired and he even babbled at times and fell asleep in clear sight of the cameras at one church function. This was in sharp contrast to Uhuru who appeared much more energetic, sharper and eloquent in his delivery.
The big question now is what happens next. Regular readers of my raw notes will know that several times in the past 4 month or so I gave the unfolding scenario as the most likely outcome of these elections. Just like I did for the 2007 general elections. I am currently focusing on plenty of interesting developments (some alarming) that could emerge out of the current mess we find ourselves in as a country and you can read them all HERE. My heart goes out to all those ordinary Kenyans whose lives have already been badly affected by these elections because business has been down with all the tension. Some of them rely on their daily earnings to put food on the table and have therefore gone hungry in recent days. I hate to imagine what will happen to them in the days to come as the situation in Kenya becomes even more tense with court cases and allegations of rigging.
Do remember to say a prayer for the motherland.
