Jubilee Party officials on Monday demanded that Deputy President William Ruto explain the sources of his wealth.
Ruto is indeed a wealthy man after over 30 years in politics despite, by his own admission, having started by selling chickens at the roadside.
The Jubilee power brokers believe that this invalidates his claim to be a 'hustler'. By highlighting his wealth, they hope to undermine his popular narrative of the 'hustler nation' where the elite should step aside for the common man.
However, Ruto's people believe that he demonstrates that a 'hustler' can succeed and that his wealth in fact earns him respect from the wananchi.
The Jubilee officials may be right that Ruto should publicly declare his wealth. However, they would be hypocritical if they only demand it from Ruto, the Jubilee vice presidential candidate they supported in 2013 and 2017.
There should be a level playing field. If Ruto should publicly declare his wealth, then should all politicians. Many governors have become billionaires in the last eight years. Some potential presidential candidates are even richer than Ruto. The power brokers risk being accused of hypocrisy if they pick only on Ruto.
Quote of the day: "It is time we had democratic socialism for working families, not just Wall Street billionaires."
Bernie Sanders
The American politician was born on September 8, 1941
