by Michele Farina
The leader, the United States’ first ally, does not enforce the Constitution (like his peers did) and stands aside. What if a woman becomes vice president?
Yesterday they voted in Kenya: This is good news. Elections of the President and Parliament. The main contenders for the country’s first leader: William Ruto, 55, current vice president, and Raila Odinga, 77, perennial opponent of the fifth attempt.
Outgoing leader Uhuru Kenyatta has chosen not to force the constitution (like many peers are doing) for a third term, and supports long-time rival Odinga against his No. 2 Ruto. A strange triangle of exes (friends and enemies), political crossroads and personal outbursts of anger. Odinga has Martha Karua as deputy, who presents herself as an anti-corruption pioneer and “grandmother of the nation” (she sewed her own dress for the campaign): Karua would be the first female vice president in Kenya’s history.
World capitals are closely watching the Nairobi vote (official results in the coming days). He’s expecting a heads-up. Both Odinga and Ruto have visited Washington in recent weeks to reassure the American ally that whoever wins will be on the path of diplomatic continuity.
In recent years, Kenya has become a pillar of relative stability in Africa, which has been beset by emergencies: the war in Ethiopia, the coups between Sudan and Mali, the perennial fragility of Somalia, the authoritarianism in Uganda and Rwanda, the chaos in the Congo, which is always looming on the horizon. Kenyatta, in particular, has emerged as a mediator and interlocutor both regionally (for the Tigray conflict) and internationally: he is, according to observers, the African leader with whom US President Joe Biden has faced the most.
These days, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is touring Africa to propose a new American partnership for a continent of 1.4 billion people. If China invests heavily (but then tightens government budgets with the debt noose), if Russia has the muscular-military approach of the Wagner militiamen, Washington’s line is for a “flexible” alliance (that doesn’t predict an either/or). : either us or the Chinese) and respectful, after Trump’s contemptuous.
In this regard, Kenya is a key piece. Then the most important thing is of course that the new leadership gives concrete answers to the questions of 50 million Kenyans: more prosperity, jobs, more health insurance. And first, a bloodless vote: in 2007, post-election clashes claimed 1,400 lives. In 2017, the victims were at least 16 years old. And today? First for the loser: acknowledge defeat.
August 9, 2022 (change August 9, 2022 | 23:37)
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