Endless politicking will kill Uhuru’s Big Four agenda dream and mess his good legacy

If Harold Lasswell’s assertion that politics is about who gets what, when and how, then this is the reason politicians stake positions of activism to set the stage for coalition-building and negotiation. And since our political institutions lack strong checks and balances, it follows that the “authoritative allocation of values” (food security, universal health care, affordable housing, employment opportunities for all, fair taxation, free enterprise, socio-economic inclusivity, equity, law and order, national integrity and zero tolerance to corruption) is driven by parochial interests.

The plausible answer to this problem lies in strong leadership that offers sanctions and rewards. Those who oppose the political agenda, especially in a representative democracy, would simply be asking the question: What are the rewards in exchange for supporting particular socio-economic-political agenda? This is what the current political formations within the governing Jubilee Party – Team Kieleweke and Tangatanga – are doing. They will devise creative ways of actualising their expectations, including mounting court challenges, peaceful protests, or disruptive political tactics.

The incessant politicking about 2022 succession has finally punctured the President’s patience. While speaking at a recent Akorino church meeting held in Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Uhuru reprimanded his Mt Kenya critics warning them not to take his silence for cowardice. His fury was underscored by the declaration: “They should know that it is not they who made me the President.

In fact, I’m the one who made them get elective positions.” As expected, there was some backlash. While the Tangatanga team and sympathisers felt the President was out of order, those on Kieleweke side thought he had been late in drawing a line in the sand.

Be that as it may, the President cannot dismiss lightly the role rebel MPs have to play in ensuring the success of his Big Four agenda. He may have to initiate local political maneuvers against rebel MPs. But that must come at a price – the failure of his Big Four agenda that is dependent on many factors, including allocation of funding by Parliament.