Uhuru and Raila have what will get the country moving again

As expected, Raila Odinga’s much-publicised announcement on the next steps the National Super Alliance (NASA) would take after Monday’s declaration of President Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner of last week’s repeat presidential election caused ripples in the country.

The ripples were not entirely because of what Raila had to say; more because his message couldn’t be taken in isolation.

Indeed, the significance of what he had to say had to do with what parallels could be drawn with the speech Uhuru gave on Monday evening, while receiving his election certificate at the Bomas of Kenya. While no one can begrudge Raila his protestation or Uhuru his celebration, it is evident that Kenya’s two foremost political leaders are still worlds apart. In fact, each of them was addressing one half of the country. In fact, the low voter turnout is a blemish on Uhuru’s win.

The question now is what next for Kenya? 

At the root of the problem is the notion that in our form of democracy, the probability of alternation is minimal. And yet that is what makes democracy beautiful and admirable all around the world: that all factors remaining constant, anyone has a fair chance of being elected to political office.

Sadly, that is not the case in Kenya today.

No doubt, the repeat presidential election ordered by the Supreme Court on September 1 has tested how strong our democracy and the institutions that underpin it really are. In turn, it has revealed and widened the deep political cleavage that previously existed beneath the surface.

So much will have to be done to restore trust in our politics to produce the leaders Kenya deserves. Most importantly, more work will need be done to ensure that those who lose are convinced that the outcome reflects the will of the people in strict adherence to the law. It is encouraging that the two leaders have mooted dialogue. However, we hasten to caution that dialogue should not be about power-sharing. Many Kenyans are loath to have another unwieldy coalition government. 

Obviously, dialogue is an indication that both sides are willing to step back and give sobriety a chance. Indeed, it is the responsibility of both Uhuru and Raila to defuse the confrontation that is building up.

Yet it is the structure Raila has set up to fix what many agree is a dysfunctional democracy that is disturbing. Particularly, the modus operandi of the newly formed National Resistance Movement campaign that among others, roots for economic sabotage, mass protests and processions.

By its very definition, resistance connotes violence; an uprising. Unfortunately, it could achieve the reverse of NASA’s intentions. That would be a pity. The planned boycott of products from companies perceived to be friendly to Jubilee Party, while seemingly smart, is counterproductive. Aren’t there NASA supporters in those organisations? And what happens to them should they lose their livelihoods? Or is that too insignificant?

This strategy will no doubt undermine the economy which, if it were doing better, perhaps we wouldn’t witness the all-out-war for State largesse and privilege.

In truth, many Kenyans feel that for far too long, the system has been rigged against them. The feeling that the rungs have been removed from the ladder of opportunity is not limited to NASA supporters alone.

Uhuru has pledged to let the rule of the law supersede his ambition to rule the country. However aggrieved he is, Raila should follow the same path. None of us is above the law. Compromise is a small price to pay for the sake of a stable country.

For now, the responsibility falls on Uhuru to get on with the task of running the country. He can chose to play to his own party’s gallery, which disapproves of him yielding any ground and thereby ruin his legacy, or he can put the country first and display statesmanship. He should go for the latter.

There are those who feel Raila is demolishing what he created. Wasn’t he at the forefront of the agitation for pluralism and the change-the-Constitution brigade in the 1990s? He needs to disprove his critics by embracing the rule of law while history is still on his side.