The Political Storm Around President Ruto's Nyanza Trip

 Chris responds to a question from Theo regarding President Ruto's recent trip to Nyanza, where he spoke about various projects, including roads and other developments. Theo notes that the president’s rhetoric made it seem as if his government had initiated these projects, yet many of them were clearly from the previous administration under Uhuru Kenyatta. This raises the question: why is President Ruto presenting these initiatives as his own?

Chris argues that the trip has sparked a political storm, particularly among Raila Odinga supporters. He suggests that Kenyans, particularly those analyzing politics, suffer from a “memory of a mosquito”—quickly forgetting important details. He recalls that during his campaign, Ruto distanced himself from Kenyatta’s Jubilee government, yet he often took credit for Jubilee projects, as though they were his own. Chris believes that Ruto’s current behavior is simply consistent with his actions during the campaign, where he blended his identity with the past administration's achievements.

Furthermore, Chris highlights the importance of remembering political history, even recent events. He reflects on the removal of the old 1000 Kenyan Shilling notes, which led to significant losses for many Kenyans who were unable to exchange their savings in time. He also notes that there were powerful individuals who profited from the exchange, losing billions when some of their old notes failed to be replaced.

Chris then turns to the potential re-legalization of the old 1000 Kenyan Shilling notes, which could benefit those who still possess them. While this move could help poor Kenyans who were affected by the earlier phase-out, Chris emphasizes the need for a long memory in politics to fully understand the motives behind such decisions.

In conclusion, Chris urges Kenyans not to have short memories and to carefully analyze political actions, as what unfolds today is often tied to past events and decisions.