ODM Politicians Joining Ruto’s Government Have Sold Out Their Political Legacy

The party leader of ODM is Raila Amollo Odinga. Raila is the indisputable doyen of Kenya’s opposition politics, having fought for much of the civic freedoms enjoyed by the masses today. But by joining the government after a lot of bloodshed and unnecessary tension Raila has sent out a message that his toil was first and foremost based on personal gain.

Actions by law enforcement agencies proved that brutality cannot cow this generation. Photo | AFP

Looking beyond the Ruto-Raila dalliance, however, is a bright sunshine on the horizon of change. The seven days of rage by Generation Z have proven to the world that dictatorial regimes can still be brought down to their knees by popular uprising.

It doesn’t matter that Gen Z may not have accomplished their goal, what matters now is that the people who claimed to fight for the interests of Kenyans by wearing the cloak of official opposition were wolves in sheepskin, eagerly waiting for their own chance “to eat”.

ADVERTISEMENT

The inclusion into the cabinet of a handful of politicians from the Orange Democratic Movement cannot change Dr William Samoei Ruto’s political agenda, if anything, it will only legitimise it.

The sad part of the drama is to hear Kapsaret Member of Parliament Oscar Kipchumba Sudi saying things such as: “I congratulate all Cabinet nominees announced by H.E @WilliamsRuto to support him achieve his dream for Kenya.The list represents meritocracy, inclusivity and 1 Kenya at a time when Kenyans are yearning for stability. I ask Kenyans to support the President’s broad based government.”

Words such as inclusivity, meritocracy and broad-based coming from the mouth of Oscar Kipchumba Sudi are suspect and have a false ring.

This broad-based cabinet in itself has a false ring. On grounds of incompetence Dr William Samoei Ruto sacked seven members of the former cabinet only to appoint them a week later on grounds of competency – it sounds hollow!

But that is not the point here. We were just wondering whether bringing in new actors in a pornographic movie set makes the film acceptable for all age-groups.

The Gen Z are still out there. Most of their demands were met but they refused to show their face, their shocking ability to access digital data, and whoever was behind their choreographed performance as well as sources of funding. That means they can resurface anytime, unless you want to tell us Raila was Gen Z!

Methinks, like the idler I’ve always been thought in my village, that some of our most distinguished and outstanding politicians in ODM Party have just sold out their careers to the “Chief Broker” in a course beyond redemption – in essence they have boarded a sinking ship.

Some of the faces in Ruto’s cabinet who almost earned patriotic status but because of bad choices may end up being judged as sellouts when the history of this period is written. Photo | Twitter

The Ibo of Nigeria have a saying: one does not handle faeces without expecting to soil their fingers. Anyone trying to sanitize the ODM -Kenya Kwanza alliance and calling it the solution to our unique Kenyan problems is a dreamer.

Here is a marriage of the Chief Wolf and wolves in sheepskin, anything can happen now.

Watch this space.

DalanewsKe 

Editorial 27 July 2024