Ruto’s Endorsement Of NADCO Final Report Was Expected

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• But as it turns out, the opinion is divided. I have been following with keen interest mixed reactions that the final report continues to elicit. This is good and healthy for our democracy. It shows that our democracy is maturing.
• I would not expect Parliament to let down the President whose vision and mission is clear.
• His main focus is to build to a united and peace full Kenya and rid the country burden of foreign debts.
• As we know, the previous administration’s insatiable appetite for borrowing was very high. This was the main cause of stagnation, slow and stunted growth of our economy.

Speaking during a Sunday service at Priesthood church in Kahawa West, Nairobi, President William Ruto expressed gratitude to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) co-chaired by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Majority leader Kimani Ichungwah for completing their job and presenting the final report.

I have read the report I want to say this. I totally agree with the recommendations.

As you know, the 10-member committee was set up to address the issues raised by other side. We are now reading from the same page.

So, having this report is a key milestone in fostering peace and unity of our country.

The recommendations will now be tabled on the floor of Parliament and senate for debate and adoption. This is in line  with one of the clauses contained in an  agreement unanimously passed by the two houses. It is worth noting this motion for establishing the bipartisan talk’s team had received massive support.

Thereafter, the two Captains-President William Ruto and Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Raila Odinga-did not raise any objection. The duo immediately endorsed it.

Therefore, President Ruto’s decision to support the final report did not come as a surprise.

He had all along supported this process.

But as it turns out, the opinion is divided. I have been following with keen interest mixed reactions that the final report continues to elicit. This is good and healthy for our democracy. It shows that our democracy is maturing.

I would not expect Parliament to let down the President whose vision and mission is clear.

His main focus is to build to a united and peace full Kenya and rid the country burden of foreign debts.

As we know, the previous administration’s insatiable appetite for borrowing was very high. This was the main cause of stagnation, slow and stunted growth of our economy.

This will not be the case in my administration. A time has come for us to live within our means. This is the only way we can rebuild our economy, Dr Ruto reiterates.

At Priesthood Church in Kahawa West, he was therefore happy to note that one of the recommendations in  NADCO final report stated. The monies allocated for the local and foreign travels of the government officials should be cut by 50 percent and 30 percent respectively. For 50 pc cut, i have already done that.

For 30pc, I have no problem. I wish they could have pegged it at 50pc.

Notably, the recommendations had been informed by the views and memoranda submitted by the people of Kenya during the public hearings.

One of the issues agreed upon is the creation of the Office of Leader of Opposition. This is another key recommendation.

The bipartisan talks were being held at Bomas of Kenya. The opinion of the polls conducted by Trends and Insights for Africa (Tifa) had shown that majority of Kenyans supported the proposal by President William Ruto on creation of this Office.

This would leave no doubt that they rightly viewed President Ruto as a  true  democrat and statesman.

Dr Ruto, who had a week earlier addressed a church congregation in Meru, stated he had no doubt this would become one of the key recommendations. Reason? The proposal resonates well with the wishes of the majority of Kenyans who were rooting for a vibrant and robust opposition.

Constitutionally speaking, parliament is a law making body.

During the demonstrations, Azimio leader Raila Odinga wanted Kenyans to believe that the MPs cannot be trusted to lead the talks. He would allege that this was because they were fighting for thier own stomach.

He would mainly target those who belonged to his Azimio Coalition who changed the tune by opting to work closely with President William Ruto.

The position of these MPs would be clear. We are doing this for the sake of the people who elected us. They have been telling us the time of politics is over. They want us to roll out the development projects we promised them during the campaigns.

In our context, the government of the day plays a leading role when it comes to sharing of the public resources.

The President is the CEO of this great Nation. So you can only ignore him at your own peril.

This however should not be misconstrued to mean that the President  had compromised and silenced us.

As people’s representatives, we have a duty to articulate the interests of the electorates without fear.

One of our assignments is to take on and correct the President and his administration when they go wrong. We are committed to this course.

But in some quarters Raila’s turnaround would be interpreted as self-indicting and incriminating.

As we know, he had played a key role in clearing these people to run for thier respective parliamentary seats and other elective positions on Azimio tickets. Does it mean he gave his supporters the wrong choices? If yes, then it means he is an enemy of the people. You never believed in the course that you wanted them to believe in.

Well, I have been having a chat with a section of Kenyans and they would tell me that this was a just a political card.

If Raila won the elections, he could have done the same thing. This is by reaching out and rallying members of Dr Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to support his development agenda inside and outside parliament.

In Meru, President Ruto reiterated that the opposition’s role is critical in terms of providing checks and balances on the government of the day.

We know some of the issues they raise were in good faith. So we will not hesitate to do the right thing.

It is worth noting Dr Ruto started rooting for a system of governance anchored on tenets of democracy and constitutionalism long before he become the President.

This is the first time in Kenya’s history that the sitting head of state is rooting for the creation of the Office of Opposition Leader.

The previous administrations feared and were opposed to formation of a strong and vibrant opposition.

At a time, the government resorted to using crude and cruel means to counter and weaken the outfits.

President Ruto is rooting for the opposition that engages the government in a structured constructive and honest dialogue.

I remember a powerful speech he made at Chatham House in the United Kingdom (UK) in the countdown to the 2022 General Election.

He told his attentive audience who comprised political leaders, diplomats, scholars  and professionals drawn from all parts of the world that he totally detested the system that was being embraced back home in Kenya.

As you are aware, the ‘handshake’ government of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his partner Raila Odinga was at the helm of power.

He described it as a mongrel kind of thing. This system lacked consistent, direction and focus. It is an animal that one cannot understand.

This system has caused a lot confusion and stagnated the progress and wellbeing of our people.

In a functioning democracy, the government and opposition are supposed to operate as distinct entities.

If I win the elections and become the President, I want to assure Kenyans that I will strive to provide leadership on this matter.

Initially Raila and his brigade had resorted to throwing the spanners in the work by holding bloody and destructive demonstrations. He never wanted Ruto to succeed.  He had previously used the same card to intimidate and blackmail presidents Daniel Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.

He hoped this card will work even this time. The strategy flopped because Dr Ruto stood his ground.

Besides, majority of Kenyans also realized that Raila was taking them for a ride. He did believe in their course. He was just using them in pursuit of his selfish and personal gains.

Raila’s endgame was to force President Ruto to share the rulling Kenya Kwanza government with him.

Dr Ruto remained firm telling Raila. I defeated you at the ballot. Accept the bitter truth that you lost and move on.

For now, your role is very clear. As an opposition leader, you job is to criticize my government.

If created, Raila will automatically occupy the  office of opposition. This is because he trailed Dr Ruto and bagged the second highest number of votes.

Many Kenyans believe Raila was yet to accept the outcome of 2022 presidential election results because of one main reason.

He never thought he can lose because for the first time the outgoing President, the deep state and system was fully backing his candidature.

He however forgot this. Dr Ruto, his main competitor was on the other hand enjoying God’s favor and support of the majority of Kenyans.

Raila’s association with the outgoing President had been identified as his Achilles heel.

We know that Kenyatta’s victories in both 2013 and 2017 were attributed to the popular support he had received from his strongholds of the Mount Kenya and Rift Valley regions.

He had already lost the two blocs and the voters were now rallying behind Ruto.

Dr Ruto had also raided and penetrated Raila Odinga’s strongholds and he had  managed to sway a huge chunk of votes to his side.

With this, where did Raila expect to get votes?

It is time he should accept the people’s verdict.

There is always another day and chance. Try your luck in 2027. Put God first in all this.

The Good Lord is the one who blesses and anoints leaders.

Seek comfort in the Verses that saw David being anointed as a King of Israel.

This happened before his mother carried him in her womb.

David had been abandoned and despised by his siblings and his father.

Dr Ruto suffered the same fate. He had been abandoned by the outgoing President and his top state officials.

Raila, you were the root cause of this.

This is listed as another reason why you lost. If you dig a hole, the person you are targeting will not fall in it. It is you who will fall in it.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi