This is all ego

This is all ego.

William Ruto and Raila Odinga are locked in a battle of wills. Whoever wins, we may very well all lose. It has nothing to do with their desire to serve the people of Kenya. In all they have done so far in their political careers, they have thought of no one but themselves. Charity Ngilu, for all the allegations of graft made by Mwangi Kiunjuri, has a far better understanding of her role as an MP than these two. So do Mutava Musyimi and Peter Kenneth for that matter.

When you examine their political histories, what strikes you is the fact that they have demonstrated an unbridled lust for power, usually at the expense of someone else. Many hail Odinga's 'Kibaki Tosha' as the height of selflessness for the national good, but when you remember that the slogan was premised on two understandings: a) the total annihilation of KANU as a political power; and b) the division of the spoils among the victors of the 2002 general elections. The infamous MoU was as selfish a political deal as they come. 

William Ruto began his political career while still a student at the University of Nairobi and he owed his start, despite all his protestations to the contrary, to Kipyator Nicholas Kiprono arap Biwott, the Total Man. His political life began when he joined the deeply reactionary Youth for KANU '92 in which he was joined by the Likes of Cyrus Jirongo. YK92, if you recall, was a political vehicle that was designed to intimidate voters who had considered voting for FORD to reconsider their political options. It became the perfect vehicle for siphoning from public coffers what amounted to billions of shillings. As a result of its remarkably well-orchestrated activities, KANU - and Moi - was returned to power and our economy officially became a basket case.

Today, Mr. Ruto is travelling the length and breadth of the North Rift to shore up his political base, proclaiming that there are 'enemies' out to destroy his political career. That he has been targeted for showing ambition in the face of opposition from entrenched establishment figures. That his ambition should not be jettisoned at the alter of political expediency. That he deserves a shot at the presidency. Mr. Odinga hopes to redeem his family's honour, to use his considerable political clout to reinforce the fact that his family has suffered at the hands of the establishment and that the nation owes him for his suffering. That he deserves a shot at the presidency.

What arrogance.

Is this a democratic country or not? No one 'deserves' a shot. It is up to presidential contenders to persuade us, either by the record of their public service or the vision of their dreams that they are best-placed to lead this country in its hour of greatest need. They will do their thing, we will do ours. No one should live under the illusion that just because Moi detained them for years on end and hounded them to near political extinction that I owe them anything. No one should be mistaken that just because they have painted themselves as underdogs that they will secure my sympathies or my vote. All politics is retail. If you cannot sell your ideas in the political market place and you only rely on a misguided sense of entitlement, you do not deserve my vote. Or my sympathies.

This is all ego.