Yada, yada, yada.

So what’s next?

Kenyatta has said he is now willing to talk to Raila Odinga, his main rival, though no one is sure what about.

However, Kenyans should be wary of leaving it up to the two of them.

Kenya’s political factions have historically been interested, not in free and fair polls, but rather in retaining the ability to manipulate results while denying the same to opponents.

The inevitable horse trading always leads to shortchanging of the electorate.

Kenya cannot afford to leave its politics to the whims of its politicians.

Any talks should be conducted within the context of a wider national dialogue that involves a wider cross section of society, including representatives of civil society and workers, as well as religious and business leaders.

Similarly, the issues to be addressed must go beyond the narrow interests of political parties.

The agenda must include the people’s “irreducible minimums”

— comprehensive audit and reform of the electoral system;

Constitutional changes to shore up the independence of the judiciary and other constitutional bodies;

Reform of the police;

Compliance with all the provisions of the constitution, including the requirement that no gender should have more than two-thirds representation in any appointed or electoral bodies;

And implementation of the report of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, which has been gathering dust in parliament for the past three years,

- So that Kenya can finally begin the hard work of righting the wrongs of the past.

However, dangers remain.

The ruling elite will not easily give up its privileged position, which is undergirded by the state.

The colonial regime was not legitimated by popular will but by a combination of brute force, co-opting of ethnic elites and dividing the people along ethnic lines.

The continuing brutal crackdown on protests and the use of tribal militia in tit-for-tat attacks show that the owners have lost none of their appetite for both state-sponsored and privately contracted ethnic violence.

Reform of Kenya’s colonial state is by no means inevitable. It will be forcefully resisted.

But if the people hold firm, they will eventually prevail.

People will never stop amazing me with entertaining things they read in books and trying to apply them in real life. More often than not they backfire (at least 90%) because there is no immediate solution challenges encountered.

I believe when it comes to politics (and not just politics) create your own rules. Act on them and live by them.

[quote=Wakanyugi]

(iii) As for those Mt Kenyan leaders angling to be Rutos running mate, tell them not to bother. It will not happen unless Ruto has been smoking something he should not. The new frontier for 'Nyumba ya Mumbi' is Economic not political. They would be better served to claim the title of post Uhuru Tribal Kingpin, whatever good that will do them.

[quote=Njunge][quote=Wakanyugi][quote=Wakanyugi]

I also hope Ruto will seize the moment and front a Wanjiku driven constitutional review process. One whose outcome will be to reduce the burden of over governance on Wanjiku and increase resources flow to the grassroots.

As opposed to the 'jobs for the boys' dynasty preservation version that Raila is trying to sell. It should not be hard to make the stark contrast.

Ruto is drowning in YANGU. He will not do anything meaningful...

plus @Masukuma

Bwana Rais,

That was a good move giving Kalonzo a diplomatic role. Ignore what the haters are saying.

Now you need to sort out Mudavadi. I am sure you have noticed his constant criticism of your economic policies etc. He is actually angling for that Special Economic Advisor position. Weta can be safely ignored for now - yeye amejiseti.

Somewhere in all this, I hope Ruto will come around to buying you a bottle of your favorite Jameson brew.

After all he is likely to be the greatest beneficiary of your moves to neuter the opposition, assuming he does not screw up by listening to his Kalejin hawks who are trying to paint you as the enemy.

....His sycophants seem to believe that Kenyans, moreso those who voted for Uhuru, owe him something. Wrong thinking. The only person who owes him 1 vote (which he is not obligated to pay), is Uhuru.

I have a feeling that all this handshake had something to do with securing WSR as the next PORK