The three way presidential competition

A political rally in Kenya. [File,Standard]

An air of desperation has crept into the national body politics as Kenya approaches the August 2027 General Election. The desperate are leaders of three political groupings who discuss political deals and potential coalitions. There is William Ruto and his UDA affiliates as joined by scattered ODM political fragments that are fighting for political survival. Another grouping comprises the Kalonzo Musyoka-affiliated parties, plagued by the weight of political prima donnas who pull in different directions. Finally is the emerging Edwin Sifuna grouping of mainly the youth shouting "Mimi Ni Sifuna" and chanting "Niko Kadi". The stiff competition among the three is likely to lead to a re-run in the 2027 election because no candidate would garner the required 50+1 majority vote.

In the opposition circles, there is an assumption that Ruto has already lost before the vote and the result announcement because of his purported unpopularity. This is similar to what happened in 1992 when politicians assumed that Daniel Arap Moi had lost because he was unpopular. Despite not having the same political maneuvering room as Moi did, Ruto still commands state machinery and resources. A good student of Moi's school of political manipulations, Ruto's scheming ability disorganizes rivals. He proved this ability by scattering Raila's ODM. He also lures politicians into ridiculing themselves as they try to maintain a semblance of sanity. Sabina Chege, in trying to persuade people to welcome Ruto to Murang'a, for instance, sounded desperate, promising to do something peculiar. Having failed to make Raila Odinga climb the Mountain in 2022, she switched to Ruto's side as a "tutam" cheerleader in a "wantam" zone. When Raila died, Oburu Oginga tried to inherit the ODM party as Ruto's point man and sounded desperate, promising to go to Canaan by way of 'Singapore'. While Sabina and Oburu are seemingly Ruto mesmerized, others distance themselves from him.