Bolaji Akinyemi: Ruto’s Success Marks a Different Direction in Kenyan Politics

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi spoke about William Rotu’s victory as the newly elected President of Kenya.

He expressed on Tuesday during the Morning Show that President Rotu should be very well congratulated for this victory because he took on the establishment itself and battled with the intelligence committee, the press and the dominant dynasty and won.

Prof Akinyemi says that winning the elections was not a landslide but he won by tapping into the power of the streets and this marks the power of the people.

He adds that this victory may have marked the end of the dominant dynasty and the beginning of the bringing in of the youths.

He says that Rotu should be commended if he fulfills even 10% of his promise to the populace because other politicians who enter office with big pledges often do not follow through.

“Even if he delivers just 10 percent, I’ll credit him. Other politicians promise the moon but don’t even get to the tree and end up blaming the congress.”

Prof. Akinyemi goes on to say when asked if President Rotu was corrupt that it is not unlikely that he may be corrupt since a saint cannot win an election anywhere in the world.

He would have some unfinished business, and a politician who is a billionaire cannot be trusted to have clean hands.

He also says that a poor guy cannot win an election, so we shouldn’t use his wealth to deny him of his victory.

Rotu wasn’t always wealthy and wasn’t given a silver spoon in his mouth, according to Prof. Akinyemi. To get to where he is now, he had to start from nothing. He is not an elite; rather, he is from the people.

“He was selling chicken by the road side to pay for his and his siblings’ education. He came from the people, not the elites” he says.

Prof Akinyemi believes that despite surmounting allegations of corruption labelled against William Ruto he will mark a significant shift in Kenyan Politics as he carries the hope of the ordinary people.

 Faith Ituen

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