For most of the time since its independence more than 245 years ago, running mates of leading US presidential candidates were selected based on the basket of votes they could bring to the ticket.
Once in office, their duties were mostly relegated to attending funerals of world leaders or basically doodling on their desks all day. No different than many CASs in Kenya, where certain politicians are parked awaiting their next kill.
In the last three decades or so, the role of US vice presidents started to evolve and was completely transformed by former President Bill Clinton’s VP, Al Gore.
Gore was the first US vice president who had real substantive work to help transform the country as the duo did in the eight years in office.
Gore would only be surpassed by Clinton’s successor, George W Bush’s vice president Dick Cheney.
Few disagree, but Cheney turned the tables and became the de facto president in part because Bush was propelled to the presidency not because of his leadership qualities or abilities, but simply because his father was also president.
In Kenya, vice presidents always served at the president’s pleasure.
President Daniel Moi at one point decided he didn’t need one and governed without a VP for months.
Then Kalonzo Musyoka was appointed as President Mwai Kibaki’s vice president after the 2007 elections. The primary task of the 10th and last Kenya’s Vice President was to help provide cover for Kibaki and put in check Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the grand coalition government.
Little attention was paid to William Ruto when he teamed up with Uhuru Kenyatta to seek the presidency. Many dismissed the duo as ICC suspects who had no business vying, let alone running the country.
Look who is laughing last. And between the two, one is still laughing, while the other is busy trying to survive politically using the constitutionally protected Office of the Deputy President from which he cannot be fired to scheme his way to the top.
If he succeeds, Ruto will be Daniel Moi 2.0. He will methodically and systemically dismantle the system and replace it with his own.
He will then use intimidation, threats, and money to force cowardly and gullible MPs to change the Constitution and allow him two more terms—that is after he is re-elected or rigged in for a second term in 2027.
As the Christian he says he is, he will say to all that God willing.
Meanwhile, whoever he picks as his running mate, who in this scenario becomes the next DP, will be doing what all past vice presidents did under Jomo Kenyatta, Moi and Kibaki: Saying, “Yes Sir,” to whatever the boss says or wants.
Raila will do none of that.
Rather, Raila, who has been rigged out severally, is poised to be the transitional leader the country yearns for.
If Uhuru hands him the baton as many anticipate, then every indication is Raila will form the bridge that passes on the progressive and forward-looking agenda in dismantling tribalism that Uhuru continues to make sure it happens.
Raila becomes president, so is tribalism-based elections buried in Kenya forever.
He will then work hand and glove with his chosen deputy to fully implement Uhuru’s Big Four agenda that has sputtered along mostly because someone decided to become the focus of all the energy and not the agenda.
Raila’s deputy will then take the baton from the enigma and carry forth the much-needed transformation of the country we so desperately need and deserve.
Samuel Omwenga is a legal analyst and political commentator
