Return of Prezzo UK in full glory, and a retinue of enticing roadside declarations

It was really nice seeing Prezzo UK and the immediate former Acting Prezzo Man Ruto emerge from the sun-roof of their vehicle, down to shirts and ties and spell out their development agenda for the people of this country.

Although it was early in the morning, their energy levels appeared amazingly high. Never mind the straight-talk issued on Jogoo Road about some fellows who like kissing others' backside; Prezzo UK was obviously enjoying himself after his self-imposed silence throughout the court session in The Hague.

After the long silence and an equally long trip from Europe, the expectation was that the Dynamic Duo – to use the term former Prezzo, Mzee Emilio of Mweiga gave Prezzo and his Deputy – would retreat quietly to Harambee House for the handing over ceremony. Why, Man Ruto has been acting Prezzo for the 48 hours Prezzo UK was away.

But since the Jubilee mantra is kusema na kutenda, (saying and doing), they wasted no time in stating what they wanted done. First off, the construction of Outering road, which I suspect the Dynamic Duo were encountering for the first time. They decried its deplorable state and committed to have it fixed immediately.

The first hint of their swift action was conveyed on Prezzo's Twitter account: the Jubilee Government is here to bring development, they declared. Such was the affirmation of their commitment, and this being a digital Government, the swelling crowd thundered in applause, if only to a message expressed verbally and firmed in writing.

It's always amazing how people congregate where two or three people are assembled. Some killjoys say this is a sign of widespread joblessness and that many people are out and about generally doing nothing but waiting for something to happen.

That something could be a vehicle that breaks down and needs pushing, or one that runs out of fuel and still needs pushing, in which case the owner will be compelled to part with a little something to fuel the throats of his helpers.

Kenya's future

Anyhow, there was no shortage of people in the streets yesterday, either waiting for something to happen for lack of nothing else to do, or having elected to wait for the return of their Prezzo and cheer him because it is the honourable thing to do.

There were bigger crowds at Harambee House, the seat of power where Man Ruto has been operating from. Music was plentiful, thundering from drums or lilting from accordion pulls. And where no music equipment was available, enthused crowds stomped their feet or clapped to make some rhythm.

There was no doubt people were enjoying themselves, or even that Prezzo UK would enjoy being back home after the muted show in the Netherlands, if one discounts the street theatre orchestrated by Nairobi Senator Sonko and his brigade. There would be more roadside declarations about Kenya's future prosperity, and the load that each citizen is expected to pull. And the useful reminder that the road to prosperity would be paved with obstacles, the most immediate being the strangulating traffic occasioned by Prezzo's motorcade.

But in the generous spirit of the moment, one would say neither does Prezzo's return from The Hague every day, nor does he hand power every so often. So the milestones merited a bit of celebration, even though the reason for the celebration was somewhat unclear, but then, nothing in life is ever clear. Things get muddled as soon as they are clarified.