DP Ruto did well not to say political debt

"Eat nothing, but do you love one another, for he who loves others has fulfilled the law" – Romans 13: 8.

This was the context of the message that the vice- President William Ruto a service at the All Saints Cathedral. He went on to say that he had noticed that there had been statements that some regions owed him political debt. He said no one owed him debt. On the same day, he had a live interview with Mark Masai of NTV, where he again stated that no one owed him debts, including President Uhuru Kenyatta

. to me seeking reactions to these comments. In a way, there was this perception that the PD's statements were a reaction to a post that I've already made on my social media page saying that the elections are not about the debts. I am pleased that the DP has confirmed my statement.

However, my comments were not to challenge the DP to take a stand on this issue. My message was a reaction to statements by leaders badociated with my community who, while accompanying the DP in their development tours, were then using such events to talk about a political debt of our community towards Ruto. One of them even went so far as to say that "because the Kikuyu are businessmen, they had entrusted their votes in a" check ", which was in his pocket and that he was going to "bank" in the Ruto newsletter on their behalf. 2022 as payment of this debt!

I therefore liked that the DP firmly states that those who have a political debt are the "elected" – not the "voters". It is we – the elected – who owe to those who put us in power a debt of service. At the national level, there is the political expectation that we will unite the country after the political schisms of the last election. On the social level, it is expected that we will kill the dragon of corruption that destroys the government's ability to provide basic services. On the economic front, we expect that we will implement the Big Four.

President Uhuru keeps reminding us that we must meet and exceed these expectations. He tells us that Kenyans want us, the politicians, to pause in the policy that concerns us and concentrate on the work that is done about them. He took the lead. Raila followed. The DP said the same point on Sunday. I hope all the other politicians listen.

However, in the midst of this conversation, a very important point could be lost. When I intervened and criticized those who were trying to engage my community in a political position, it was because these remarks were dangerous in the way they defined communities. When someone makes a political statement by engaging a community, he must act from someone who has the mandate to do so, and the position must be one that has been agreed by the community. Otherwise, they open a whole community to a socio-political attack.

Communities take political positions for the interests of the community. This is the unfortunate reality of our politics. This reality means that when a community takes a political stance, this position will be guided by the interests of the community. It must be clear how a community will benefit from a political stance. Otherwise, there is no community position; only individual personal preferences.

There is also the question of legitimacy. A community can be engaged in a political position only by a leader that the community has mandated to do so. Some of those who voted seem to do so out of fear. Others seem to do it for a personal financial reward. Yet we still have Uhuru in power. Why not first support Uhuru to finish his term strong, then we discuss community politics?