OMWENGA: Will opposition be relevant in Ruto government?

The critic then noted that I abandoned Kanu for KPU, then joined Raila in 1982, then Jaramogi in 1992, Raila in 1997, Simeon Nyachae in 2002, Raila in 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022. It was an exaggeration, but the point was well taken.

Prior to 1992, I had very little interest in what was happening in Kenya politically as we were “lost” in America, having arrived there in 1984. Between doing two jobs and going to school, there was just no time to follow the goings on back home.

Besides, unlike now when many of us in the diaspora often get information faster than folks at home, it was not easy then to know what was going on back home.

That changed in 1995 with the advent of the internet. Although the Moi regime saw this as a threat to its survival and did everything to try and stop it use in the country, Kenyans abroad quickly took notice and started using the medium to engage in political participation.

No time to dig into the archives to refresh on what the discussions of the day were those years, but I recall vividly going after then LDP leader Raila for abandoning the opposition and merging LDP with Kanu.

As I have always been, my going after Raila was strictly professional and respectful and nothing like the insults the opposition doyen has suffered over the decades. I bore the brunt of much of that hate and insults as I became the object and recipient of it being a leading supporter and strong defender of Raila in the various Kenyan forums.

The political wars we engaged in, especially in the lead-up to the 2007 elections and less so 2013 are legendary. Some exposed how uncouth and wicked human beings can be. One Form 2 dropout, who somehow ended up as a journalist, comes to mind. Another one, a Luo who somehow must have gotten his legal education at the comfort of a bed on Koinange Street comes to mind as well. There were others but fast forward to 2017 and 2022, I chose a different path and arena to participate.

It is advised never wrestle with a pig as you both get dirty, but the pig enjoys it.

Years later I would ask Raila why he merged LDP with Kanu and his response was he knew that was the only way to dismantle Kanu and he did.

During the debate to amend the constitution following the election of President Mwai Kibaki (now deceased), I was one of a few who argued we did not need to amend the constitution deeply to render the presidency impotent. I further argued the country—much like the rest of Africa — needed a strong president if they were to have anything done.

I even went further to argue some form of dictatorship was necessary because there is always a dearth of elected MPs who would stand up to the president and do the right thing.

All that is needed is a strong president — and even one with dictatorial tendencies — so long as they are compassionate with ability and willingness to lead the country in a manner that unites and not divides.

The problem is we have never had a leader with such qualities, not in Kenya and not anywhere else. We always have leaders on one extreme or the other; dictators such as Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, Paul Biya, wannabe dictators like Donald Trump or weak presidents like retired Uhuru Kenyatta. Many lurk in the middle with mediocrity being a common denominator, with a few exceptions of the Mandelas of the world.

Many feared President William Ruto will become a dictator, if elected. Given the history of having an opposition never known to be solid or gutsy, Ruto is more likely to become a strong leader, getting his way as he wishes with a streak of dictatorship.

To what end?