Why the making of political marriages should be pragmatic to skip failure

The Sonko-Igathe equation had the potential to work, it just started wrong [Jenipher Wachie| Standard]

The high failure rate of political marriages is well documented. Some are drawn out and painful like Jaramogi and Jomo’s was, ending in a bitter epic split. Others, like Uhuru and Ruto’s political matrimony endures permanent rumours and speculation about ‘trouble in paradise.’ On the other hand, Raila and Kibaki’s union was an obviously unfulfilled arranged political marriage. Raila was always complaining and airing their dirty laundry in public. And although they stayed the course, both looked permanently unhappy.

But not all political partners are as long suffering as the senior Odinga, Mzee Moi and other stoic presidents-in-waiting. Some political marriages are short-lived and dramatic like the Nairobi Governorship ‘couple’- Mike Sonko and Polycarp Igathe. The thing about political partnership, unlike most conventional ones, is that they are purely marriages of convenience; no one is in love. They are products of unblinking realities and interests. And that is why the making of these unions should be pragmatic.