Banish binary politics through seeking national consensus

President Uhuru Kenyatta, Ruto meet top KCPE candidate Goldalyn Kakuya at State House. (Photo: Courtesy)

The developments of the past few months suggest strongly that Kenya has a consensus challenge. The lack of general agreement between the major political movements in the country on broad issues including how to lead and govern, as well as advance the economy, have persisted.

On November 20, 2017, the Supreme Court of Kenya (SCOK) by a unanimous verdict affirmed the re-election of President Kenyatta when it dismissed petitions lodged by two coordinated actors, both pursuing the same goal. By this decision, SCOK has effectively brought an end to any questions of legal legitimacy of President Kenyatta’s second term in office, propelling the incumbent to the pole position of Head of State and Government.