• About Us
  • Archives
  • SWG Registration
Samrack Media
Mahiga Homes
  • Home
  • ALL NEWS
  • Diaspora
  • Africa
    • AFRICA
    • KENYA
  • BUSINESS
    • BUSINESS
    • INVESTMENTS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • Politics
  • Health
    • HEALTH
    • EDUCATION
  • Religion
  • People
    • PEOPLE
    • LIFESTYLE
    • RELATIONSHIPS
  • Obituaries
  • Videos
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • ALL NEWS
  • Diaspora
  • Africa
    • AFRICA
    • KENYA
  • BUSINESS
    • BUSINESS
    • INVESTMENTS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • Politics
  • Health
    • HEALTH
    • EDUCATION
  • Religion
  • People
    • PEOPLE
    • LIFESTYLE
    • RELATIONSHIPS
  • Obituaries
  • Videos
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
Samrack Media
No Result
View All Result

Why Uhuru is having a hard time getting that second term

samrack by samrack
April 12, 2017
in Africa, Diaspora, Kenya, Kenya Diaspora News, Kenya Elections August 8 2017, News, U.S Diaspora
A A
0
Why Uhuru is having a hard time getting that second term
Share this
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmailWhatsAppLinkedIn
Development

Why Uhuru is having a hard time getting that second term

As we head into that phase of our election cycle usually associated with explosive emotions and potential violence, I think I should remind readers of a basic fact of politics, easily overlooked at such times.

And this is that politics – like many social sciences – falls into the category of soft sciences (eg history, political science, etc).

We need to remember that soft sciences are quite a different thing from the hard sciences (eg, biology, chemistry, physics). And that in any soft science there is room for doubt and caution at all times.

For example, one of the laws of physics – the law of gravity – tells us that if you jump from the top of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, you will hit the ground at such a high speed your body will be crushed to a pulp. And no matter how many people do this, the outcome will always be the same.

But then, one of the ‘facts’ of Kenyan politics, which media analysts like to point out, is that no Kenyan president has yet lost when seeking reelection. And that is true enough. The results of past elections support this view.

However, that does not mean that it is impossible to defeat a Kenyan president seeking reelection, if the election is free and fair. This ‘fact’ need not always apply.

One might even take it further and point out that it is equally true that no Kenyan president seeking reelection has ever won 50 per cent of the votes cast.

Whether we consider retired President Daniel Moi ( 35 per cent in 1992; 40 in 1997 ); or retired President Mwai Kibaki, ( 45 per cent in 2007 ) we find the same thing: They both got well below 50 per cent when seeking reelection.

This could then be used to argue that a Kenyan president can only be reelected if he faces a divided opposition; and that against a united opposition, he is sure to lose.

All this, then, illustrates the fundamental difference between the hard sciences in which the ‘facts’ never really change and the soft sciences in which what at one point seemed ‘a plain fact of life’ can easily turn out to be not so true after all.

Now I explain all this because one of the ‘facts’ of Kenyan politics, repeatedly declared from every rooftop, is that all we really want is ‘development’. Examined closely however, this turns out not to be true.

Like everyone else, I have been reading and watching President Uhuru Kenyatta’s vigorous defence of his tenure at State House, and taking note of his long list of ‘development projects’.

And, allowing for the occasional exaggeration about how many new roads have been built, we must admit that since Uhuru took over, we have seen far more of what we would generally define as ‘development’ – ie, state facilitation of education, health, transport, infrastructure, power, clean water, etc – than has ever been the case before.

And yet we do not see a President overwhelmed by the gratitude of ‘wananchi’ as he travels around the country. On the contrary, he is distinctly on the defensive.

There have even been several instances when the President has abruptly postponed his campaigns in one region or another, because there was the distinct possibility of an unfriendly reception.

So, what is really going on here?

Many Kenyans would, I suspect, attribute it all to tribalism. But I think there is more to it than that. Both the President and Deputy President William Ruto are having to campaign very hard even in their own political backyards, where tribalism would work for them, rather than against them.

I would say that there is an odd twist of psychology at work here:

When most of us speak of ‘development’ we do not really mean that we wish to see new and better roads and well-lit streets from a distance. What we really seek is economic opportunity – something which will place some extra income in our own hands.

And as of this point in time, few of the President’s new ‘development projects’ have actually done that.

In other words, Kenyans may well have seen this development, but they have not really felt it.

Source: The Star

Previous Post

Supermodel Naomi Campbell In Kenya (PHOTO)

Next Post

Former Finance minister David Mwiraria dies at Karen Hospital

Related Posts

Kenya Airways Subsidiary Fahari Aviation To Receive Embraer Eve eVTOL Aircraft From 2026
Business

Kenya Airways Subsidiary Fahari Aviation To Receive Embraer Eve eVTOL Aircraft From 2026

June 22, 2022
Kenyan Nurse Given a Three-story Home in Lebanon, Pennsylvania After Volunteer Work
Diaspora

Kenyan Nurse Given a Three-story Home in Lebanon, Pennsylvania After Volunteer Work

June 22, 2022
Uhuru’s Daughter Ngina Kenyatta Ties the Knot in a Traditional Wedding Ceremony
Diaspora

Uhuru’s Daughter Ngina Kenyatta Ties the Knot in a Traditional Wedding Ceremony

June 22, 2022
Untold Stories of How Thika Road Estates Got Their Names
Business

Untold Stories of How Thika Road Estates Got Their Names

June 22, 2022
President Uhuru Rejects To Assent Into Law ICT Bill, Opting To Send It Back To Parliament For Review
Kenya

President Uhuru Rejects To Assent Into Law ICT Bill, Opting To Send It Back To Parliament For Review

June 22, 2022
Police in Nairobi recovered 22 firearms and 565 rounds of ammunition during an auction mission on Tuesday in Kilimani suburbs, Nairobi county.
Business

Police in Nairobi recovered 22 firearms and 565 rounds of ammunition during an auction mission on Tuesday in Kilimani suburbs, Nairobi county.

June 22, 2022
Next Post
Former Finance minister David Mwiraria dies at Karen Hospital

Former Finance minister David Mwiraria dies at Karen Hospital

Please login to join discussion
Job Openings Below is a list of current job openings at Northeast Clinical Services, Inc.. Please click on an opening in the list to view details and apply. Job Openings Below is a list of current job openings at Northeast Clinical Services, Inc.. Please click on an opening in the list to view details and apply. Job Openings Below is a list of current job openings at Northeast Clinical Services, Inc.. Please click on an opening in the list to view details and apply.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest News

Kenya Airways Subsidiary Fahari Aviation To Receive Embraer Eve eVTOL Aircraft From 2026

Kenyan Nurse Given a Three-story Home in Lebanon, Pennsylvania After Volunteer Work

Uhuru’s Daughter Ngina Kenyatta Ties the Knot in a Traditional Wedding Ceremony

Untold Stories of How Thika Road Estates Got Their Names

President Uhuru Rejects To Assent Into Law ICT Bill, Opting To Send It Back To Parliament For Review

Police in Nairobi recovered 22 firearms and 565 rounds of ammunition during an auction mission on Tuesday in Kilimani suburbs, Nairobi county.

George Wajakoya’s Running mate: Who is Justina Wangui Wamae

IEBC set to make corrections to voters’ register

Kenya cannot ban Mitumba without upsetting the US,Just ask Rwanda

Transition/Death Announcement of Francis Kagumba Mwenenia (Father to Pastor Naomi Kagumba (Lowell,MA ) of St Stephen’s Church Dracut,MA

We are grateful for your monthly or one-off donations To Samrack Media: Cash App No: 781-888-8770 $SAMRACK001

Money

New Digital Skills Helps Unemployed Kenyan Youth Earn In Cryptocurrency

New Digital Skills Helps Unemployed Kenyan Youth Earn In Cryptocurrency

by samrack
November 19, 2021
0

New Digital Skills Helps Unemployed Kenyan Youth Earn In Cryptocurrency This week sees the launch of a new initiative to equip...

A simple guide to Government Bonds investing in Kenya

A simple guide to Government Bonds investing in Kenya

by samrack
September 17, 2021
0

A simple guide to Government Bonds investing in Kenya A treasury bond (T-bond) is a medium term to long term...

Politics

Police in Nairobi recovered 22 firearms and 565 rounds of ammunition during an auction mission on Tuesday in Kilimani suburbs, Nairobi county.

Police in Nairobi recovered 22 firearms and 565 rounds of ammunition during an auction mission on Tuesday in Kilimani suburbs, Nairobi county.

by samrack
June 22, 2022
0

Police in Nairobi recovered 22 firearms and 565 rounds of ammunition during an auction mission on Tuesday in Kilimani suburbs,...

George Wajakoya’s Running mate: Who is Justina Wangui Wamae

George Wajakoya’s Running mate: Who is Justina Wangui Wamae

by samrack
June 9, 2022
0

She has risen to prominence, following her selection as a running mate for one of the only four presidential candidates...

  • About Us
  • Archives
  • SWG Registration

© 2021 SAMRACK - Diaspora News & Updates; design by: Samrack.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • ALL NEWS
  • Diaspora
  • Africa
    • AFRICA
    • KENYA
  • BUSINESS
    • BUSINESS
    • INVESTMENTS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • Politics
  • Health
    • HEALTH
    • EDUCATION
  • Religion
  • People
    • PEOPLE
    • LIFESTYLE
    • RELATIONSHIPS
  • Obituaries
  • Videos
  • Events

© 2021 SAMRACK - Diaspora News & Updates; design by: Samrack.

Page generated in 0.842 seconds. Stats plugin by www.blog.ca