Kenyatta's victory a big challenge to the Baganda

By Kavuma Kaggwa

The people of Kenya have elected Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the fourth President of Kenya since Independence.  Kenya achieved Independence on December 12, 1963.

Uhuru Kenyatta, 51, the son of Kenya’s founding father, Jomo Kenyatta, scored 6,173,433 votes which was 50.07% and also gained 25% in 32 counties.

His main rival Raila Amolo Odinga scored 5,540,546 votes.  Raila Odinga showed a high degree of statesmanship and magnanimity after knowing the results when he called upon his supporters not to resort to violence “because it would destroy the country forever”.  He did not accept the results and he took a wise move to resort to the Courts of Law.

The two are the sons of Kenya’s founding fathers, Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who fought for Kenya’s Independence.  At the time of Independence, Kenyatta was President of Kenya and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga his Vice President.

Kenya’s leadership since Independence has been rotating among two tribes, the Kikuyu’s and Kalenjins of the Rift Valley. With the victory of Uhuru Kenyatta, the leadership has   remained in the hands of the Kikuyus.

Jomo Kenyatta led Kenya for 15 years, Daniel Arap Moi 24 years and the outgoing Mwai Kibaki, 10 years.

Uhuru Kenyatta being a young man will do everything possible to lead for 10 years.

Uhuru Kenyatta was given that name by his father, which means independence in Kiswahili so that his father Jomo Kenyatta would always remember the bitter struggle for Kenya’s Independence.

When Jomo Kenyatta was in the final years of the seven year detention because of managing Mau Mau, he was moved from Lokitong to Lodwar then to Maralal, which are all in what was known as the Northern Frontier District during the colonial days.  This is an extremely dry area and the British confined Jomo Kenyatta and five others in that dry area to punish them.

Soon after arriving in Maralal, the British colonialists allowed Kenyatta, who was in his early 70s, to have a lady to look after him.  The late Senior Chief Muhoho of Ruiru in Kiambu County, sent his youngest daughter now Maama Ngina Kenyatta to keep Kenyatta company.

When Jomo Kenyatta was set free in early 1960, Maama Ngina was already the wife and soon they got their first son whom they named Muhoho according to the Kikuyu custom and in 1962, Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta was born.

Jomo Kenyatta is remembered as the founding father who united Kenya under the Kenya African National Union (KANU) which ruled for 39 years.  Kenyatta adopted a unifying philosophy – “HARAMBEE” – which means that “Let all the tribes of Kenya unite to build a strong Nation of Kenya”.

This is now the biggest challenge facing Uhuru Kenyatta.  He must strive to unite Kenya now that their political system has drifted into tribes which form political coalitions at the time of general elections.  This happened in 2002, 2007 and now in 2013.

Kenya’s politics today is surprisingly in line with what the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga once said in 1988, when he was asked about tribalism in Independent Africa.  Jaramogi Oginga Odinga said – “Tribalism is God-given. Whatever you do you can never abolish tribalism. What we can do as African leaders, is to encourage a philosophy of peaceful tribal co-existence in our countries”.

Uhuru Kenyatta will unite Kenya, if he adheres fully to the manifesto he gave the people of Kenya at the time of the campaign.

The manifesto concentrated mainly on meaningful service delivery to the ordinary people throughout the country as well as industrialisation, strengthening the economy and creating jobs for the citizens of Kenya.

His manifesto also included free medical treatment for women giving birth at hospitals and free laptops and school bags for children in primary schools.

Besides all that, Uhuru Kenyatta must strengthen Kenya’s relationship with the international community.

Finally, the victory of Uhuru Kenyatta, a Kikuyu, is a big challenge to the Baganda in Uganda.

The Baganda are like the Kikuyus.  The Baganda are the leading tribe in Uganda, they are in the centre of the country, they fought for Uganda’s independence and they started political parties. They are 12 million people with the biggest number of highly educated people. Most of the institutions of higher learning are in Buganda.

The Capital City and the airport are in their area. They have the biggest number of rich people and they are the source and centre of political power in Uganda.

All the systems that run the Government of Uganda are based in Buganda, and their language is spoken everywhere in Uganda, but they have never been in power for a long time and it is not known when they will take power especially when you look at the way they are disorganised politically.

Sir Edward Muteesa II was a ceremonial president for three years; Prof. Y.K. Lule was president for 68 days only and was removed by the National Consultative Council and UNLF/A at that time. 

Godfrey Binaisa was president for one year and was removed by the Military Commission, when he attempted to remove the then Army Commander, the late General Oyite Ojok.  Paul Muwanga was Chairman of the Military Commission for five months preparing for Milton Obote to take over for the second time after the 1980 disputed general elections.

This is now the time for the Baganda to work out a political plan and strategy similar to what the Kikuyus did in 2002, and get the opposition parties front one muganda candidate in 2016 and 2021 and at the same time other Baganda should work very closely with President Museveni so that NRM also fronts a muganda presidential Candidate in 2016 and 2021.

Remember there is nothing impossible in politics and Uganda is now under a democratic multi-party system, which means that the NRM can also front a muganda to lead this country in the coming years.

The writer is an elder from Kyaggwe
Mukono District