Intolerance hurting our democracy

Last week on the Jeff Koinange Live television show, I watched David Matsanga, the burly Ugandan national who imagines he understands the intricacies of Kenyan politics more than Kenyans themselves and the staunchest alien supporter of the Jubilee-led government, take on Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale, who appeared diminutive by comparison, on a debate on sugar imports from Uganda.

Dr Matsanga, for those who may have interacted or glimpsed some of his rantings on social media, comes across as highly temperamental. Thus, with Dr Khalwale’s propensity to irritate, I had a feeling the debate was going to be stormy, and it did not disappoint. Dr Matsanga got increasingly agitated as the debate progressed and I was afraid he was going to attack the self-proclaimed matador from Ikolomani.

I am willing to swear Dr Khalwale at some point flinched and involuntarily ducked a stabbing finger directed at him; he was highly discomfited, even as Jeff was immensely enjoying himself only to get incredulous when Dr Matsanga said he was willing to take on the ‘grand mullah’, Ahmednasir Abdullahi, following a tweet the latter had sent. Jeff shouldn’t accept the invite from Dr Matsanga to talk Mr Abdullahi to the ground because, with him and the ‘Grand Mullah” on the set, a fight is not a possibility, it is probable.

That, however, paled in comparison to what transpired recently when Deputy President William Ruto and Governor Isaac Ruto seemingly forgot their exalted station in society and engaged in debasing verbal exchanges at a public function. It is easy to ignore the Matsangas of this world because, at best, they are mere attention seekers, but not so Mr Ruto; a man who is only a heartbeat away from the presidency.

Opposition legislators have discovered it is very easy to get under the Deputy President’s skin and going by the frequency by which they are doing so; coaxing and needling him along, the inevitable conclusion is that they are enjoying it, setting him up. By the time they are done with pricking him, he will be so leprous, metaphorically speaking, perhaps nobody will be willing to touch him even with a ten-foot pole, yet I am sure that is not his intention; not with his eyes focused on the presidency in the foreseeable future.

Why then is William Ruto obliging detractors by letting himself be abstracted? I have wondered before; why does he feel inclined to answer everything said about Jubilee? I have heard him deride some leaders whom he scornfully says were absent during Gography lessons. Can the same be said of him on History lessons? A politician who does not have the benefit and knowledge of history is a one-time phenomenon; an anomaly that the same history corrects.

In the same vein, no matter how much they disagree ideologically and in principle, Governor Isaac Ruto should stop being a maverick and at least respect the office and authority of the Deputy President, if not the person, while in public.