The writing is finally on the wall: President Uhuru Kenyatta has no more qualification . . . to speak to his backyard from a position of strength.
It’s an unmistakable warning that things will be hard in 2022 when the country holds a general election.
President Kenyatta will be vacating the position after being at the helm for a maximum of two terms in line with the constitution.
His Mt. Kenya backyard has found a new bearing in post “handshake/BBI period”.
It has found a new political vehicle for 2022 election. It has reclaimed its political independence. Negritude of thoughts and freedom of choice.
The Kiambaa by-election outcome is reflective of the paradigm shift in Kikuyu land.
Aggression and pressure from the Jubilee stalwarts during the campaign has worsened the situation and the rebellion is self-evident.
It means that UDA, a party that Deputy President William Ruto has associated himself with is the most popular party among its immediate peers.
It is the source of the DP’s newfound confidence to challenge Jubilee and President Kenyatta in every single domain.
UDA has not only introduced itself in the region but is now advancing to the stage of becoming a force to reckon with.
Jubilee dominance has faded away and its demise has been hastened by quick rise of UDA and poor leadership of the Jubilee government.
UDA has suddenly become a political power that can meet the rest of the political parties and even trounce them.
The fact that there is no ideological rivalry or alternative means that the “hustler nation” narrative will be dominant all the way to the 2022 elections and has no risk of backlash.
The narrative is popular. “The UDA character”, that is, the bottom up economic model that has never succeeded anywhere in the world is going to be unstoppable particularly among the poor, proletariate and ignorant lot.
And UDA will from now going forward try to shape the “hustler nation“ narrative environment favourable to its rise.
This will push back against the notion that UDA is a Rift-valley political party.
It will prove that the party has national appeal and validity.
The winning of UDA has animated the political contest going forward with national values of inclusivity attracting the weak, the mighty and hitherto powerful political diehards from unsuspected quarters.
Whether the UDA flagship bearer lacks character and moral vibe to lead this country is neither here nor there.
The political contest is here in earnest.
Dr. Mwangi is a communication and media expert. He is the immediate former CEO of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and currently an international consultant in media policy, regulation, freedom of expression, democracy and governance.
