Kenya's violent storm and the coming together of strange bedfellows

President William Ruto pays a courtesy call to Former President Uhuru Kenyatta at his Gatundu Home on December 09, 2024. [PCS, Standard]

In his play The Tempest, William Shakespeare opines that "Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows". The Tempest revolves around romance and forgiveness after a ship on which Alonso, the King of Naples was on board was caught in a violent storm close to an Island where Prospero, who would have been the Duke of Milan was exiled after Alonso conspired with Antonio, Prospero's brother, to deny the former his dukeship.

The play bears an uncanny resemblance to our situation today. President William Ruto's ship, Kenya Kwanza, is caught up in a violent storm in the mountain region. The nearest place he could find refuge is Ichaweri Island where former President Uhuru Kenyatta, against whom Ruto had conspired with Uhuru's brother, Rigathi Gachagua, lives.