Can William Ruto change  course for Kenya’s VPs? 

By Nkwazi Mhango

I’m a kind of who interrogate Kenya Deputy President William Ruto’s controversial philosophy. 

Today, I’m constructing on the identical by taking a look at probabilities for Ruto to make it to the highest job. Kenya’s historical past reveals that out of its Kenya’s 10 vice presidents (VPs), it’s solely Daniel arap Moi who landed the presidency after the demise of his boss, Jomo Kenyatta. 

There are assumptions that if Kenyatta had lived to retire, or relinquish energy, Moi wouldn’t have turn out to be president. For the remainder of the VPs, none made it to the highest job.  

Currently, Ruto seeks to emulate his mentor and tribesman Moi to turn out to be president although in a different way since his boss remains to be alive, and can quickly retire. Again, there’s a distinction between deputy president and VP legally and constitutionally.

Jaramogi Odinga had points with Kenyatta that compelled him to give up the federal government and be a part of the opposition. 
After Odinga, there got here Moi who had no points along with his boss though he had points with Kenyatta’s interior sanctum, aka the Kiambuu Mafia. 

He outsmarted them by maintaining his playing cards to his chest. After Moi, finally, after weathering heavy storm and turning into president, he appointed Mwai Kibaki to appease the Kikuyu. However, issues didn’t go as deliberate for Kibaki. 

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Before lengthy, after being VP for 9 years, Kibaki fell out along with his boss and as was for Odinga, he give up the federal government and joined the opposition to finish up clinching presidency for 14 years, thereafter beating Moi’s selection Uhuru Kenyatta whom Moi needed at hand the baton as an indication of reciprocity for what his father did. 

Again, Kibaki was in a position to punish his boss after teaming up with different Moi’s vice presidents equivalent to Saitoti, Musyoka and the son of Odinga, Raila.
When Kibaki grew to become president, he appointed Michael Kijana Wamalwa, who, alas died earlier than ending his time period in workplace. 

Therefore, we will’t say something about him so far as energy wrestle between president and VP is worried. 
The similar applies to his tribesman, Moody Awori who left with none points along with his boss. Thus, we transfer on to VP George Saitoti, who served at this capability for 14 years. Being Moi’s VP for such a very long time, Saitoti consider that his boss would hand him a baton after retiring. 

However, Saitoti obtained the shock of his life. The baton’s as an alternative was given to a greenhorn Uhuru Kenyatta whom Kibaki simply trounced in 2002. Like Odinga and Kibaki, Saitoti left the federal government and joined the opposition and helped it to defeat the selection and protegee of his boss as an indication of revenge. 

At least, Kibaki and Saitoti punished their boss Moi, who left energy unceremoniously however dies a nationwide hero after Uhuru grew to become president.
The final VP who made it to the opposition and helped to punish his boss, Kibaki, is Kalonzo Musyoka who saved as Kibaki’s VP for 5 years. 

After Kibaki, like Moi, supported Uhuru, Kalonzo left the federal government and joined the opposition although Uhuru this time received and Kibaki triumphed the place Moi didn’t. Importantly, the upshot right here’s that for VP to inherit his boss is traditionally tough in Kenya.

Now, let’s see if Ruto will make it to the highest with all squabbles between him and his boss. Experience reveals that to be a superb VP, one should maintain a low profile as an alternative of considering they’re a shareholder to the presidency. 

Mhango is a lifetime member of the Writers’ Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador         [email protected]