Two theories that explain Kenya Kwanza's unfolding dirty games

President William Ruto during the launch of UDA manifesto. [File, Standard]

Usituuzie uoga" (don't sell us fear) is the mantra echoing across our nation today. It reflects a growing sentiment among Kenyans who are weary of political manipulation and tired of being pawns in power struggles that offer little improvement to their daily lives. The emerging factionalism within the Kenya Kwanza government, between President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, is a stark reminder of this reality, and it can be aptly analysed through the lenses of Game Theory and Elite Theory.

The top political elites of Kenya Kwanza united with shared interests, forming a coalition that was declared the winner of the 2022 General Election. This alliance promised unity and a cohesive national agenda. However, their inability to stick together has proven to be their Achilles' heel. The failure to run a common national agenda-fueled by the "shareholder narrative" that emphasises power distribution among some communities-suggests that their campaign lacked strong bonding values and a unifying vision. Instead, their primary goal was to gain power and share its privileges, including unfairly using authority to benefit their camps.