In December 2019, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison took a family holiday to Hawaii. The premier was on vacation while his country battled bushfires.
Scores died in his absence, and his ‘missing in action’ occasioned a leadership void in times of crisis. The Kenyan version of Mr Morrison is one Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka. When someone needed a veteran Opposition leader to hold the government to account, he was nowhere to be found.
As most Kenya Kwanza critics yeaned for direction, Mr Musyoka recoiled into his familiar cocoon. All he did was to issue a few statements.
When ODM chief Raila Odinga quit the Opposition following the UDA-ODM pact in March, he never quite took up the mantle.
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Then in the last seven weeks when former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was in the US, nothing suggested that Mr Musyoka was the Opposition’s anchor person. In fact, it felt as if the entire Opposition had died a natural death with Mr Gachagua’s departure.
Why is Mr Musyoka lukewarm? Is he acting in a movie? Why is he a passenger rather than a driver? Doesn’t he realise 2027 presents him with his best chance ever?
What are Wiper braggarts like Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua and MP Robert Mbui really telling their party leader? Why this ‘water melon’ culture that always fires blanks?
Listening to Democratic Action Party of Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa few days ago, it’s clear ‘tumbo joto’ has gripped the Opposition that 2027 is already lost.
Mr Wamalwa says defeating President William Ruto will be no easy feat, thanks to deep divisions and lack of a strategy. Observers say Wiper is likely to work with UDA.
Should this disorganisation persist, history will judge the Kibaki-era vice president harshly.
Leadership is about spearing the animal, not waiting for scraps. You would pity Mr Musyoka’s supporters. How do you entrust your hopes to a man who survives in the shadows of others?
Mr Musyoka has all along ridden on the backs of Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga. But time has run out. Rebranding Wiper isn’t enough. He must adopt an aggressive, even abrasive style.
The man from Tseikuru must answer these questions: Does he genuinely want the presidency, or is he merely posturing? If he’s serious, then he must insulate himself from opportunists who add no value to his quest other than the tribe.
People Liberation Party boss Martha Karua has credentials but lacks numbers up the Mountain. Mr Wamalwa can’t undo Mr Odinga’s grip on Western. Former CS Fred Matiangi isn’t a politician as such. Mr Gachagua can’t ride to power on soar grapes alone.
Meanwhile, Mr George Natembeya, Mr Okiya Omtatah and Justice David Maraga are credible but numberless. That leaves Mr Musyoka as Opposition’s best bet yet he’s squandering the chance.
Coming to the so-called ‘Third Force’ of Senator Edwin Sifuna. Many are asking: Why don’t we feel them? Why aren’t they bolting out of their parties to pursue a new course if they trust their wit? Why isn’t Mr Sifuna quitting his ODM Secretary General post? The Senator who opposes the ODM-UDA pact, feigned innocence during Thursday’s Orange party central committee meeting, soaking it all in. Like Kalonzo, he’s caught the indecision bug.
Methinks the problem is that Mr Sifuna, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, Saboti’s Caleb Amisi and Mr Babu Owino, the word-master of Embakasi East and their allies are only basking in media limelight even if it means losing everything. They’re suddenly very clever.
You can take this to the bank. The Opposition and the so-called ‘Kenya Moja’ are resigned to handing President Ruto another term.
As they dance on one leg, they won’t admit it. Moreover, a united front of Ruto and Mr Odinga is formidable like Lwanda Magere in Luo folklore.
Mr Sifuna and his team should spell out their agenda. But for Mr Musyoka, 71, he must rise to the moment, or he’ll be remembered as the fellow who let history pass him by. He has no excuse to pass in the middle again.
The writer is a communications practitioner. X:@markoloo
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By Mark Oloo