“Sisi tumesema hizi viti zingine mchague wale mnataka lakini kiti ya President mpatie Uhuru Kenyatta”. Never before have the presidential candidates surrendered to the will of the people like in 2017.
In the years before 2013, politics was based solely on tribe, political associations and who dished out the most cash. Back then, most aspirants who tried to go against the party of the political supremos in their backyards in pursuit of leadership were termed as traitors. Fast forward to 2017 and we have independent candidates muscling nominated candidates in various areas. Who would have thought that devolution could have brought about such changes?
Voters all over the country have risen up in arms against leaders who have no development record and thrown them out.
Cases like Jakoyo Midowo, Oburu Odinga, Nyokabi(Kiambu Woman Rep related to Uhuru) loss in the nominations have also shown that political affiliations will not be enough to guarantee one a position.
The aftermath of 2017 elections will be the most interesting in Kenya’s political history. In case Uhuru wins , will Ruto use Jubilee as his vehicle towards 2022? Will Kenyans be ready for another Kikuyu in top leadership (DPORK under Ruto)? Will Kikuyu’s support Ruto? Will the relationship between Kikuyus and Luos be better because of the shift of power to come? How will Ruto play his game of chess with Mutua, Munya and Kalonzo all interested in 2022 top job? Will Raila retire from politics ?
We also have one of the most politically inexperienced and youthful politicians at the grassroot level taking up nomination posts? Will they perform?
Should Raila win? Will he only choose the one term option? Who will lead the opposition in Jubilee and how will they fair? Will they overturn key Jubilee projects like Trump has been doing in the U.S? Will the people warm up to Kalonzo in 2022 despite his lack of likeability?
Many more questions that time will only tell. All in all, we are maturing politically.