How the politics of betrayal might complicate the succession matrix in 2022

Succession is an inevitability of political life, and there are several ways to accomplish it, from dynastic inheritance to assassination to competition for votes. Some Countries do it better than others, however, and it’s fair to say that Africa has had more than its share of disorderly successions.

Political analysts have arguably stated that most of Africa succession matrix mostly happens along tribal dimensions and comes 2022, Kenya won’t be an exception as Uhuru handover as his tenure elapse.

They argue that elections would be an open race for anyone but most likely, a winner is always predetermined even before the vote cast.

Among politicians who have declared interests to succeed Uhuru Kenyatta includes, his deputy William Ruto, former prime minister Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi as well as former UNCTAD boss Mukhisa Kituyi among others.

Over the past, president Uhuru has avoided the politics on who should succeed him after he retires but recently, he broke his silence and said he won’t endorse a thief to succeed him comes 2022.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has publicly announced that he will never hand a power to thief a reference that Kenyans interpreted as being directed to William Ruto.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his foot soldiers from Mount Kenya region among them David Murathe have conspicuously avoided voicing Ruto’s support.

David Murathe who is Jubilee Party vice-chairperson in a past media interview revealed that the president fell out with DP Ruto due to his numerous attack on his persona.

On the other hand, Ruto’s allies led by Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro have accused former prime minister Raila Odinga of trying to use the handshake to cause mayhem within the Party.

The truce on March 9th between president Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga has severally been blamed as the source of disloyalty between Uhuru and his deputy.

Since 2013, the unlikely political partnership of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto has kept the long-standing tensions between their respective ethnic groups, the Kikuyu and the Kalenjin, to a minimum. They have worked along so well but this might change if Uhuru fails to honour the promise.

Speaking exclusively to Opera News Kenya, Kikuyu council of elders, national Chairman Samuel Maigua has told the writer that nothing wrong with the handshake and it has helped the Country to heal generational dispute between Kikuyu and Luo community.

Maigua said that President Uhuru Kenyatta should be left to make a sound decision that might help the Country but not the politics of succession.

“This politics of betrayal should end and president Uhuru Kenyatta granted an opportunity to serve the Kenyans without being given conditions, “he said.

The dissolution of the Jubilee pact would most likely spark renewed fighting between the Kikuyu and the Kalenjin, particularly in Kenya’s Rift Valley.

In 2007, the region was a hotbed for political violence as more than 1000 Kenyans were displaced from their homes and several killed.

In a recent interview at Inooro television, former Kiambu governor William Kabogo said that political betrayal isn’t new in Kenya political arena.

He said that no one should cling to promise that he will be supported by a certain community to get into power.

Kabogo said that if people from Mount Kenya fails to speak in one voice, the other communities eyeing presidency will take advantage of region huge population and voting pattern.

Kabogo said his mission to ensure that the Mount Kenya region is united ahead of 2022 general election.

Already, a section of Mount Kenya leaders has vowed they will field a candidate and nothing will hold them back.

“I once told my friend William Ruto that he won’t be given this position and he ended up fighting me, now see what is happening, am not a prophet but I saw it coming, ‘he said.

Political analyst and Mount Kenya MCAs Caucus chairman Charles Mwangi Ng’ang’a who is said to eye Murang’a senatorial seat told Opera that the succession matric will be complicated if politics of betrayal continues to get the hype.

“Who has never been betrayed politically? “he posed adding that whenever there is an election, new alignment emerges and promises are broken.

He said that during the dispensation of power, some political formations mostly happens as well as new political parties, “he said.

Ichagaki added that lack of trust in the mechanisms of Kenya’s elections is one driver of post-election discontent and violence, and restoring faith in the country’s electoral process could thus be essential in preventing widespread anger over the results of the polls in 2022.

President Kenyatta allies are said to be concerned with ensuring that president Uhuru Kenyatta writes his legacy well before he leaves office and probably that why they are against DP Ruto’s early campaigns.

When Raila made a pact with Mwai Kibaki in 2002, little did he know that he would, yet again, be betrayed by a cabal of Kikuyu elites, who have helped them capture power from Moi.