I have studied the history of our country and come to the conclusion that a Luo-Kikuyu or Kikuyu-Luo government is bad for Kenya.
Until a few things change in the “ethnic relationship” between Luos and Kikuyus, we cannot produce a democratic order that truly delivers the goodies to the people.
A study of Kenya’s near 60 years reveal that whereas such Luo-Kikuyu or Kikuyu-Luo alliances may produce some spectacular victories at the ballot; the running of government usually collapses in confusion, chaos, infighting, endless bickering and dysfunction which eventually sips into the larger populace with disastrous consequences to harmonious living of the people.
The first Luo-Kikuyu fallout, only three years into independence, and the later post-2003 fallout also only months after NARC victory, reveal a pattern that reflects the difficulties predicated on such an alliance.
Whether formed through willing political associations or forced to exist by the international community, like after 2007/8 skirmishes, the resultant government is always one full of internal conflicts, power-struggles and betrayals.
It is also now very clear that a political arrangement which attempts to put both Luos and Kikuyus under the same government suffer political upheavals.
If you study the pattern of anti-Moi agitation in the post-Kenyatta era (1979-2002); Moi tended to face stiffest opposition when he brought Luos to the centre in substantial roles as to cause outrage and anger in the Kikuyus.
This opposition was always clothed as national opposition. Opposing a regime in ethnic terms but clothing it in national terms. A GEMA peregrination.
Sadly, Luos themselves became contributors to their own sidelining and impoverishment — always baited into picking wars they’d have avoided completely.
President Moi started his reign by implementing some grand positive strides, including the pardoning of all political prisoners then languishing in Kenyatta jails, eased political restrictions of the time, started expansion of ‘national education’, and brought reforms and progress in sectors hitherto untouched by Jomo.
To the Luo, Moi also implemented certain core principles of the Luo, particular with regard to the Luo contribution to the national effort.
Through appointments or reassignments, Moi cumulatively raised the profile of Luos again; with Luo holding some central positions in the government, and Moi facing Nyanza with record economic development, much of it stalled under Kenyatta in the post-1969 Luo world.
Yet his regime quickly had to contend with attempts at unconstitutional power takeover almost immediately.
In the end, a democrat quickly reverted to the dictatorship earlier familiar to all.
What is rarely said of Moi’s dictatorship is the ethnic underwriters — the communities that cushioned themselves by playing into the fears of a now paranoid president.
The key player here, sadly, was the Kikuyu.
President Ruto faced a similar challenge. He was told ‘Mr. President you formed this regime with our votes and must listen to us when we tell you to keep Luos away’.
Go back and watch the funerals in Nyandarua — of those mau mau veterans. Mukami Kimathi et al. Check them on YouTube.
You can try whitewash this aspect of the conflict between Gachagua and Ruto but to those like us who started listening to what Gachagua and his minions (Methu, Thangwa, Wamuratha, Wamaua, old witch Jayne Kihara, Nyutu, etc) were saying in much of the year 2023, the issue of potential inclusion of ‘Raila na watu yake’ echoed an earlier GEMA outrage when Moi attempted to ‘rehabilitate’ Jaramogi and bring back the ‘core Luo’ to the fold. History is important.
President Ruto gambled big in his decision to include the Luo. This was the ‘mistake’ Uhuru made in 2018. He lost the Kikuyu. So Ruto has lost the Kikuyu too — this doesn’t mean there are Kikuyus who will not stick with him. What Ruto must do is to win more of those who will stick with him. Hao ndio wazuri. Lakini ni wachache. So he needs to increase the count there.
Lastly I return to the main issue here, which is that the Luo must first repair their political relationship with the Kikuyu before attempting an alliance.
This is because in the present circumstance, Gachagua is plotting against us.
You cannot plot with somebody plotting against you.
That’s like selling bhang to a police officer investigating your town’s narcotics. The officer will readily buy, even smoke with you, but he will be the ‘IO’ when you appear for plea taking.
What I mean is that the Luo community must first do “background check” on the kikuyu to see if they are truly now opposed to ‘klinzy-style democracy’, also known as the ‘killing spree democracy’.
