Cold political and ethnic calculation lies behind a reconciliation between Kenya’s president and his rival
a year ago, Kenya seemed to be teetering. Swathes of the country refused to recognise Uhuru Kenyatta as their president. Nearly 100 people had died in political violence after he was declared winner of a brace of elections in late 2017. The opposition’s leader, Raila Odinga , having rejected his rival’s victory in the original poll and boycotted a court-ordered re-run, had declared himself “the people’s president”.
Mr Kenyatta wins, too. He has tamed his opponents, restored stability and given businesses confidence to invest. Growth has ticked up. Most crucially, the president has found an ally who could prevent his deputy, William Ruto, from succeeding him in 2022, when Mr Kenyatta is obliged to stand down. For many Kikuyu, Mr Ruto represents a greater threat than Mr Odinga.
The handshake also means Kenya no longer has a functioning opposition. Some fret that the country could in effect become a one-party state again. Few politicians seem bothered. They argue that confrontational democracy is a Western import that has endangered stability and hampered economic development. Kenya, says a close ally of Mr Kenyatta, would be much better off with a benevolent dictatorship.
Mr Ruto is suspected of getting his revenge by using his large parliamentary caucus to hold up government business. An attempt to rescue Kenya Airways, the unprofitable national carrier, may have stalled as a result. Plans to build houses, improve access to free health care and boost manufacturing and agriculture have all been delayed, victims of the infighting.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
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