After last Saturday`s rally at Posta grounds in Bungoma, Eugene Wamalwa finally made good his threat of ditching Ford Kenya. Propped by honorable Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, he just fell short of revealing his new political party. Grapevine has it that he intends to sojourn in New Ford Kenya where a hero’s welcome awaits him. I must admit that this sounds too good an offer. Yet, we are warned that when the offer is too good, one must think twice lest his celebrations are quickly drowned out by the Devil that is in the details.
To begin with, Eugene has to convince the populace of Kakamega County that he was not part of the political elites that hounded the likes of Soita Shitanda and Bonny Khalwale out of Ford Kenya in the months leading to the 2007 general election. I have a hunch that the latter have never gotten over the 2007 sour grapes and they may just be looking for an opportunity to revenge. Remember that revenge is a dish best served cold. Outwardly, they may put on charming smiles while they are really hurting inside. Even if perchance the officials of the New Ford Kenya bear no grudge against Eugene, I am not sure that they will be so desperate as to agree to give him more prominence over themselves.
There is also a growing perception among the electorate that Eugene is a quitter. This term carries with it a negative connotation in that quitters are known to be driven by their short term political interests as opposed to the general good of the electorate. Unlike his elder brother, the late Vice President Wamalwa Kijana, Eugene`s behavior is a testament of a man who is impatient with himself. When he failed to secure the Ford Kenya ticket as the parliamentary candidate during a by-election in Saboti constituency that was occasioned by the demise of his brother, he quit Ford Kenya for Republican Party of Kenya (RPK) where he unsuccessfully launched his maiden contest. In 2007, he quietly returned to Ford Kenya. He succeeded in taking the Saboti Parliamentary seat on a PNU coalition ticket.
Four years later, realizing that he cannot competitively secure Ford Kenya`s nomination as a presidential candidate, he has again decided to jump ship. However, because of his penchant for quitting parties especially in the face of competition, the electorate`s trust in Eugene is diminishing by the day. Eugene Wamalwa will thus have an uphill task convincing the Bukusu populace to cross over from Ford Kenya to New Ford Kenya.
Consequently, it does not make sense for Eugene to join New Ford Kenya when his presence in that party will not add any value. Clearly, there is very little he can do to enhance New Ford Kenya`s popularity. At most, Eugene will only be regarded as New Ford Kenya`s cheer leader. The only guarantee he will have of not being trampled upon is if he does not allow his ambition to be in direct conflict with the political ambitions of the “owners” of New Ford Kenya.
Eugene may find solace in Chinua Achebe`s “A Man of The People” by saying that he is not a fool to spit out the juicy morsel that good fortune has put in his mouth. But to the electorate, he is simply a man who does not mind riding on the misfortunes of some of the Ocampo six. Besides, there is a perception in the public domain that some of Ocampo six are barons of impunity therefore any politician who intends to be a presidential aspirant associating with them runs the risk of being seen as part and parcel of the evil axis that the electorate wants to get rid of. As the saying goes, “if one walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then, he must surely be duck.”
But of more concern now to Eugene is the theory gaining currency that he is not his own man. Pundits opine that by being publicly propped by people with questionable characters to the presidency, Eugene seems to be reclining to the fact that even as a president he will be a true regent or a prisoner to forces of impunity. No idea is as repulsive as this for an electorate that is yearning for positive change.
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