Ruto should avoid the curse of unmet pledges

Former Ntonyiri MP Maoka Moare one time stood on a point of order in Parliament, ready to take on all comers - no holds barred. He said reporters were like monkeys with loaded guns.

The MP was roundly condemned for his retrograde remarks that reeked of media-phobia. That was his opinion, and I am not sure if he still holds the same view.

Recalling Mr Maore’s words today, methinks the monkey-gun depiction perfectly fits leaders who make empty promises… and have no qualms about it. They will promise heaven but deliver nil.

Nothing justifies lying by leaders on the campaign trail however gullible voters might be.

Servant leadership is anchored on honesty. Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit recently called out Kenya Kwanza leadership over its lofty pre-election pledges. He says for pacification of mind, we should imbibe the truth that we were overfed with hope.

Sapit, who was gleefully present at Bomas during the tense vote-tallying and announcement by Wafula Chebukati on August 14 last year, says President William Ruto should face Kenyans and admit that part of his signature pledges won’t work, and others will take decades to accomplish.

It can be a complex discussion. First, there are promises made when a candidate has zero idea of what the office they are seeking entails. Two, others are made when the candidate underestimates what awaits them.

Lastly and more painfully, some promises are made purely out of greed to hoodwink voters. I am not sure where you place Kenya Kwanza and previous regimes.

There’s a false belief somewhere up there that voters will forever remain gullible.

The beauty is that bit by bit the Kenyan voter is becoming wiser. In 2027 onwards, political cons will be outfoxed. Sweet empty words and the tribal card won’t work.

I buy the words of celebrated poet Munia Khan that it’s hard to befool a fool fooled so many times. When you become a victim of political manipulation each election year, you will gradually develop the firepower to isolate and resist half-truths whenever they fly around.

That aside, it’s heartening to see President Ruto make gains in the clamour for universal health coverage.

Ruto has signed into law four Bills that anchor his health agenda. On Wednesday, I was at Kapkatet in Kericho where Head of Public Service Felix Koskei graced a weeklong expo as a precursor to yesterday’s UHC launch themed “Afya nyumbani.”

True to Mr Koskei’s words at Kapkatet, Kenyans must reflect on what might have gone wrong in the quest for a 360 degrees’ socio-economic makeover.

But the big quandary remains why life has not improved for Wanjiku in the six decades of self-rule. It’s all due to graft and lethargy.

We must now bend the arc of history to ensure pledges are kept and everyone benefits. Koskei’s rallying call for public centric services across ministries and enhanced public participation in every major undertaking was spot on.

After UHC rollout, let’s see more game-changers across all crucial sectors.

To restore public hope, Ruto should break the jinx of unmet promises that have defined Kenyan politics.

He must succeed where his predecessors failed. But first, he must build bridges and work with zeal as if there’s no tomorrow.

He must shake off the bad apples like those who view his government as a share enterprise of tribes.

Similarly, for signature pledges to be met, Ruto and his team should stop perpetual politicking. Azimio should equally shun unhelpful distractions. Let political schemers hold their horses and allow time for life-changing programmes like UHC, affordable housing, green energy reawakening, digitalisation of government services among others to take off.

A lot is at stake now. Kenyans are watching with bated breath and will be ruthless at the ballot in 2027 elections.

-The writer is a communications practitioner. X: @markoloo