{UAH} Edmund/Pojim/WBK: Lessons in divisive Moi tactics | The Star, Kenya

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/07/25/lessons-in-divisive-moi-tactics_c1391630

Lessons in divisive Moi tactics

To win the 2017 elections, the only thing the strongest opposition coalition, Cord, must do is make their marriage work, whatever it takes — counselling, intervention from a council of elders, anything. They should stay together by hook or crook. The other thing they should do is learn from history. Why did Daniel Moi not lose an election, particularly after the introduction of multi-partyism? It is not because he was a gifted 'rigger'. Matter of fact, where his true talent lay was in effectively scattering the competition. And he did this in many ways.

He had stooges in each ethnic group whose special role was to undermine any popular leader threatening his presidency. For the Murang'a Kikuyus, he had his loyal minion Joseph Kamotho, for the Kiambu Kikuyus he had the showman Kuria Kanyingi, and for the Luo, he commissioned the wheeler-dealer Dalmas Otieno. These geniuses of the Kanu mathematics of division were continually dispatched on devious missions to paralyse any potential rival.

Moi's other instrument was the first full-colour newspaper in the country: the Kanu-owned Kenya Times. The publication heaped fake praises on Kenneth Matiba all through 1992, pimping him as a "viable administrator", further pitting him against the other Kikuyu presidential candidate Mwai Kibaki and fragmenting the Central Kenya vote bloc even more. In fact, the scheme to encourage Matiba's candidacy was so elaborate, and spared no trick or expense. It is said that Kanu planted thousands of 'supporters' to line the streets, to cheer and welcome Matiba back into the country after a medical trip abroad. Kanu's support for Matiba almost went overboard and made him a genuinely strong opponent who almost out-polled Moi.

Thirdly, and probably most potently, Moi funded some opposition leaders in order to split the opposing coalitions. While he seduced them secretly, he ensured that his clandestine meetings with them were 'accidentally leaked', an example being the infamous 'Midnight Ugali', a late evening meeting at State House that greatly compromised Martin Shikuku in May 1992, causing bitterness within Ford.

With an opposition history as replete with lessons as this, why does Cord find itself in the same fragmented state that Ford and DP were in over two decades ago? Cord leader Raila Odinga understands more than anyone why it took the opposition 10 years to unseat Moi. Raila was in fact himself a beneficiary of a united opposition in 2002. So why is the lesson not sticking? Can personal ambition blind one totally to political history and fact? I have said this here before, the problem is Odinga's application of SSDD — Same Strategy, Different Day. So, on the second Tuesday of August 2017, Raila Odinga will be 72 years old and potentially‎making his third unsuccessful bid at the presidency.

As political students of Moi, it would not be surprising if Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto to used the former President's divisive strategies ahead of 2017. In my view, however, they do not need to lift a finger. Cord is self-destructing. Moses Wentang'ula's July 21 statements are a clear indication of political frustration, bitterness and disillusionment.

Or could the opposition be carrying out the absolute opposite of Moi's divisive strategy? Could its clever strategy be to appear fragmented in order to consolidate just before the elections?

Moi was not a gifted 'rigger'. his true talent lay was in effectively scattering the competition 

Lessons in divisive Moi tactics | The Star, Kenya

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/07/25/lessons-in-divisive-moi-tactics_c1391630

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