The President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to Nyanza is with no doubt historical. Nobody ever expected that He will visit this once hostile region and receive a grand reception by the same people who were singing the ‘resist song.’ But you know politics in Kenya is game.
The historic part of it started with the handshake which has built bridges for sure, that i stand to be corrected.At least things are better.
But the gaming part of politics took a center stage when The President echoed the exact same words uttered by the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on the calls for referendum.
Opening up for the first time about pre-handshake talks with his new opposition soulmate Raila Odinga, Uhuru said the current presidential system was unfairly excluding some communities from leadership.
The President said it was necessary to have a government structure that accommodates even election losers to prevent the bitterness among Kenyans that has triggered post-poll violence.
“We said we must look at this issue of winner takes all. If that is why some people feel left out of government, we must ask ourselves, ‘Is is a good thing or not’,” Uhuru said during his first tour of Raila’s Nyanza backyard, previously considered an opposition bedrock.
This was the first major hint by the head of state of possible amendments to the Constitution to introduce an alternative system of government ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Uhuru’s remarks came just days after a leaked internal paper by Raila’s ODM Party revealed that the ex-Prime Minister was pushing for radical amendments, including a Parliamentary-type system of government.
Raila’s think tanks also favour a three-tier system of government with 14 regional governments.
Deputy President William Ruto, who was present during the Kisumu visit, has strongly opposed any law change and the President’s hint is likely to put him in a tight corner. He wants to be President in 2022.
Uhuru, who was for the first time wildly cheered in Nyanza, said the exclusion from government was fueling grand corruption.
However, the President, Raila and Ruto were unanimous that the politics of ethnicity that often results in poll violence must end.
Raila recalled the aftermath of the 2017 polls and the anarchy that followed the repeat presidential polls, saying many Kenyans lost their lives because of political competition. Much of Nyanza boycotted that vote and Raila didn’t run.
Ruto, known for political scheming, used the event to declare an end to hostilities with Raila.
The two continued to engage in bitter exchanges even after Uhuru declared a ceasefire with Raila.
The DP, who was accorded a warm reception, has had to fight off claims that he undermining the Building Bridges Initiative.
Do you think DP Ruto will support the calls for referendum?