HOW MEN CAN ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH A RUTO PRESIDENCY
{Readers’ discretion encouraged}
I was in New York when Donald Trump was elected to be the president of the United States. Virtually all my friends (Kenyans in America and native Americans) were beside themselves with grief, totally crestfallen about the unfolding tragedy.
I was especially close to a certain Venezuelan-American beauty, a shocuddly thing who was completely defeated and it took so many hugs and my avuncular assurance to her that everything will be fine. She believed me and a short four years later, their worst nightmare was out of office.
This morning, I want to assure all folks in Azimio with no hopes, completely defeated with no desire to ever vote again that we will be fine. We have been through this before. And we are not going to die. If anything, we have just been made resilient. I will be more worried if I was a Kikuyu or a Kalenjin who voted for UDA, because those have expectations. We wish our new president well in meeting them and by extension in doing better than our doomsaying.
On a positive note, at the very least, our new president is a man of word and action and that is something all men can learn from him. Ethics and morality aside, him being a teetotaller and a Christian workaholic, should register with most men about the benefits of the proverbial protestant work ethic.
Personal bias aside, I wanted a Raila presidency because I felt men in Kenya needed grandfatherly assurance and guidance. Men are hurting and the combined sagely mien of Raila and the motherly quality of a toned down Martha Karua was the right antidote to set us straight for the decade.
Ruto, for all his orderliness and military-like precision in execution his plans comes at a time when most Kenyan men are lost. The combined Testosterone of Ruto and Gachagua may be an overkill for men. As Jordan Peterson notes on 12 Rules for Life, men represent order, but too much order is what breeds wars and the worst about masculinity. Martha Karua may have been a moderating factor in Baba’s government. It will be interesting to watch two powerful men at the helm of our government. Last time that happened was between Jomo and Jarmogi, it didn’t end so well. But I am not here to wax political.
Here is my submissions about the next five years.
- The Economy Will Do well But Not Fast Enough, So Buckle and Ready Up
Unlike women, for men, when a country is doing badly economically, their mating prospects tank horribly. Ruto takes over at a time when our economy is at its weakest and the global recession is crashing on us like a tornado. Few countries are doing well out there.
I project the next two years, Ruto has the burden of performance and will make a few adjustments and if David Ndii gets a good post at the treasury or planning, his ideas can shake up things a bit.
But the damage of the Jubilee years will be prove too much to turn things around fast enough.
So at an individual level be vigilant, aggressive and ambitious. Bail out son if things don’t work out fast. Run as fast from Kenya, think outside the box, if possible. But if over 25, don’t be a victim of the government’s choices.
- Nairobi is Overrated, if You Can, Try the Devolved Units
Nairobi is presently stretched. If your county has a new administration, try your luck there. If you can get a job out of Nairobi and switch towns, please go. Times waits for no man.
Alternatively, counties continue to provide opportunities for business and novel ideas. If you are a risk taker, jump on them and try your luck.
Rent and the cost of living in Nairobi is not pocket-friendly. Not that it is in other places, but Nairobi has stretched most men to the limits, ruined their marriages, yet all the men had to do is have some breathing space and the marriages would have survived.
- Women Will Sober Up But We Ain’t Out of the Woods Yet
As you may have noticed, online militant feminism has slowly died. Vocal feminists of the 2010s are nowhere to be seen. The few remaining on Twitter will be mostly women from privileged backgrounds who will mostly be ignored. Or only entertained by a tiny elite clique.
When the economy is doing badly, feminism and its attendant theories become a luxury. Whereas the economy shrinks the mating prospects of men, for women it diminishes the pool of desirable men.
Shockingly, most women, even the educated, working-class type still entertain the idea of marriage as a backup plan when the bills are a challenge. That is why clandes, second wives, mistresses, trophy wives, and some baby mamas tend to be women who under normal circumstances would swear never to share a man.
Also, women born up to 1996 have been a bit problematic for men. Those born after in my estimation are a bit feminine, have no Caroline Mutoko hangups of the 2000s, and some are even settling for marriage. But for men who want marriage, this is a decade to he extra vigilant.
Don’t lose your guard.
- Ruto and Gachagua are Institutionalists
They reward structures. Think YK92. Think Gachagua’s documented work history. Look at how efficient Kenya Kwanza has been in their campaigns. So, align yourself. To the institution. To churches. To schools. Be part of a structure.
The duo believe in talent, skills and will reward it well, if you knows how to align itself.
- Case for Family and Religion.
We have lost the belief in family and religion. The two first families may restore this, though I feel like we have swung too far to readjust.
Ruto and Rigathi are famously family men who are proud to display their families. Their wives’ prayerfulness is noted.
It will be interesting if their religiosity in a fast secularising world, will match up to millennials’ total disregard and contempt for social order.