Dear Sir/Madam,
I dare say that there is no love lost between William Ruto and Raila Odinga. They were and are still allies out of convenience. And, there is no denying that both have so much in common. Retired president Moi still writhes in anger at their combinatorial analysis that rendered his 2002 presidential choice kaput. Some analysts opine that both Ruto and Raila bear the terseness and calculated simplicity that they use to dumbfound friend and foe alike. Others view them as a bullies of the Left Bank who are always ready to twist the milksop`s arm. Both have rarely stayed in a party to fight a war to its logical conclusion. As many have extolled them as they have besmirched them. For those who extol them, they view them as bullfighters par excellence whose forays many would dare not venture. Knowing them, many would be least startled that they have now locked horns or so it appears. But before they hastily shout “aluta continua”, it would be prudent that both Raila and Ruto take the counsel of Ernest Hemingway. He said that “Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left in the fighter`s honor.”
That both Ruto and Raila are literally bullfighters is not in doubt. That both have intricate moves and prowess that they employ in vanquishing their foes is still not in doubt. If indeed they are on a warpath to attain the top honors then theirs is a mouth-watering war of reputation. I am calling it a war because it is a series of battles. Thomas Green etal opine that, “Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.”
So what are the battle fronts that make up this war of reputation? You will agree with me that these would be based on their individual stance on issues of national and international import, their respective coterie and lastly their abilities to transcend ethnic and age barriers.
Ruto has frantically albeit unsuccessfully, tried wrecking havoc on Raila`s reputation on Post Election Violence and Mau respectively but public and international opinion has in both instances favored the latter. Raila on his part has successfully portrayed himself as a selfless leader who will risk losing his political clout if only to place himself at the service of the nation and indeed the world! His articulation of issues of import has earned him political enemies as well as both local and international accolades. Many have likened him to the proverbial lizard that sought to jump from the highest Iroko tree to fall flat on its belly and survive to tell the tale.
As to one`s coterie, it has been said that if one walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then one must be a duck. Whereas it is difficult to pinpoint exactly Raila`s coterie, the same cannot be said of Ruto who has signaled to all and sundry that he doesn`t mind working with the YK92 retread! I hold it that Ruto cannot hope to amass political capital with dubious characters that even the most naïve among us would have no iota of doubt, that given chance, they can only spend our country into oblivion. I put it that in such company Ruto stands to gather personal embarrassment than popularity.
On transcending the ethnic and age barrier, Ruto satiates himself in the company of ethno-centric youthful legislators who have nothing in common with Kenyans who are just smarting from the disastrous effects of PEV. These are the political barkers with no political idealism of whatever persuasion. Raila on the other hand is tirelessly working to endear himself to this disappointed and disillusioned youthful voting block.
From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that Ruto needs to change tact. And he must do it quickly. As Richard Bentley said in reference to Alexander Popes, “I hold it as certain that no man was ever written out of reputation but by himself.”
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis