Nairobi, September 9

Communications expert Barrack Muluka has recalled an event in which a child called him an idiot.

Muluka, who was appearing on Citizen TV’s JKLive programme alongside celebrated scholar Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba famously known as PLO Lumumba, recounted how a child asked for money from him at the height of a political campaign.

Although the communications expert did not delve deeper into the details, he recalled how the child from his rural home of Khwisero, Kakamega County, wanted him to give money in exchange for ‘votes’.

“He called me an idiot and went ahead to tell me how I would lose,” stated Muluka.

Mr Muluka and Mr Lumumba, who were hosted by celebrated television man, Jeff Koinange, were discussing President Uhuru Kenyatta’s succession politics.

Mr Lumumba explained that at the time Mr Muluka was confronted by the child, the duo had made a decision to try their hand in politics.

“There was a time when Barrack and I, when we were young, thought we had made it and decided to throw our hats in the ring,” stated Mr Lumumba.

He noted that the tragedy with the Kenyan politics is the fact that some political leaders have refused to exit the stage and want to continue contesting over and over again.

The celebrated orator said the refusal by individuals to leave power will lead to the same results of a disorganised nation.

“We will go through two cycles of elections before we go back to factory resetting because we have two individuals who refuse to leave the stage,” stated Mr Lumumba. 

Without mentioning names, Mr Lumumba accused some politicians of behaving like they own the political space in Kenya.

“They danced from 1992 up to date and they are stating that they will dance better in 2022.”

Mr Lumumba warned that the deteriorating relationship between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, was bound to happen as the two leaders were brought together by the crimes against humanity cases they were facing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague in Netherlands.

“In a marriage of convenience, couples sleep in the same bed but each with their own dream,” he opined in an analogy, referring to Mr Kenyatta and Ruto’s relationship.

Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto joined hands in 2013 and successfully clinched the presidency despite facing charges at the ICC. In 2017, the duo would successfully defend their seat, but fall out less than a year later.

Since March 9, 2018 when Mr Kenyatta held talks with opposition leader Raila Odinga, his relationship with Mr Ruto has taken a beating, with the two leaders reading from different scripts and publicly telling off each other.

Mr Kenyatta has gone to the extent of asking his deputy to resign from government, remarks Mr Ruto has rubbished saying he will stay put despite the pressure.

Mr Ruto and Mr Odinga are the frontrunners in the upcoming August 9, 2020 presidential elections, and the duo have mounted spirited campaigns.