Dr David Ndii to Uthamaki - Kihooto kiha? On Uthamaki’s Bogeyman Politics: Time to call the demonization of President Ruto what it is! In the days leading to President Ruto’s swearing in, some supporters sent apologies to the President-elect to the effect that they would not be attending the Garden Party in State House because from Kasarani they would turn right and attend to long standing matter. The long-standing matter was historical land injustices in Kiambu. Their immediate target was the vast Kenyatta estates between Kasarani and Gatundu, but by no means the only ones. As I wrote in the posted op-ed “Of Land and the Luo Bogeyman” when I was growing up, one could have walked from my home in Limuru to Gatundu without stepping on the land of a peasant. The Kikuyu class cleavage—Uthamaki vs Mungiki—is arguably Kenya’s most potent political problem. It was, as the op-ed explains, the cause of the Jaramogi Jomo fallout and Moi’s ascendancy to vice president, in what I have called the Kikuyu Kalenjin “power-for-land” pact. Kikuyu class conflict has been bottled up by the political tactic of creating a siege mentality in a community by inventing external enemies—political bogeymen. Jaramogi was the first victim of bogeyman politics. When it looked like Jomo would die, and Tom Mboya seemed to be ascending to power, he was assassinated, and bogey man was expanded to the entire Luo through the 1969 oathing ceremonies. Jomo survived the 1969 heart attack, but by the mid-seventies it was a matter of how soon. Those of us who, as we say in Gikuyu, have eaten a bit more salt, can relate the demonization of William Ruto to the Kenyatta succession political drama that played out between the Change the Constitution shenanigans and the Njonjo inquiry. Those who have not eaten as much salt can read up on the change the constitution movement in Karimi and Ochieng book “The Kenyatta Succession”. Moi began his presidency supplicating to Uthamaki. I have recollection of Moi regularly speaking Kikuyu, and on one occasion doing a full prayer in Kikuyu. Fuata Nyayo was as an olive branch. But Uthamaki would have none of it. The bogeyman campaign began. How can we be led by a herdsman? Reassurances were given to the Kikuyu masses that Moi was a passing cloud, normal service would be resuming. It peaked at the 1983 Rungiri church service where Kiambu tycoon Samuel Githegi, with Charles Njonjo in attendance, proclaimed that iguthua ndongoria itikinyagira nyeki (a flock led by a lame sheep does not find pasture). Many Kenyans, particularly the young and those who don’t read history, think that the political violence unleashed by multiparty politics in 1992 violence was new. The 1992 violence was in fact a replica of the political violence in the run-up to the 1963 elections. Bogeyman Moi, the passing cloud, the limping sheep, retired on his own terms. Uthamaki was finally back in power. The paradox is that it took the political calculus of the the bogeyman axis— Moi’s Uhuru project and Raila’s Kibaki tosha—to deliver it. Moi decided that his post retirement security was to return power to Uthamaki. Raila who had hitherto calculated that power would transition within KANU, had the presence of mind to realize that a divided opposition would hand over power to his then nemesis Uhuru. Overnight, Raila became Kikuyu hero. It was not to last. Kibaki was elected on a new political dispensation to end tribalism and enact a new constitution within 100 days. Uthamaki had other ideas, which Michuki rationalised as handling liver— the slippery nature of power. Kibaki’s capture by Uthamaki ideology cost him the 2007 re-election, and brought the country to the brink of civil war. Had Uthamaki honoured the NARC MOU, he would, in all likelihood, have been handed a second term with ease. Instead Uthamaki went about gucokia rui mukaro (returning the river to its course). John Michuki took to speaking Kikuyu in official meetings. Jomo Kenyatta’s portrait replaced Moi’s on the currency. The NARC dream died. We have been paying the price ever since. I did a short stint advising Uhuru Kenya when he was opposition leader—short because I did not have the deferential constitution of palace courtiers that he was accustomed to. One of the pieces of advice I gave him was to rise above ethnic political mobilisation. My last conversation was a brief phone call after I saw him on TV being enthroned as muthamaki by Michuki and company. Had he heeded, he would not have ended up in ICC, but then again, he might not have become president seeing as it was ICC sympathies that propelled him. The Uhuru-Ruto ticket was borne of an existential threat. If they did not hang together they would be hang separately. But as soon as ICC threat was out the way, Uthamaki reverted default settings. Hustler, Tanga Tanga… Uhuru’s legacy will forever be tainted by BBI, the 2022 Bomas coup attempt, and his continuing attempts to undermine his successor. But why? Moi retired and left the stage. Kibaki retired and left the stage. Two reasons. First, money. Take the 11000-acre Ruiru holding. The Northlands City development occupies 5,000 acres. Take a conservative figure of Sh50m per acre. That’s a tidy Sh250b monetization of land for which there is no record of purchase. Second, dynastic hubris. The 2010 constitution outlawed individual portraits on the currency. When new designs were presented to Kibaki, with Uhuru in attendance as Finance Minister, he threw one of his famous juvenile tantrums. Compromise was reached. The portrait was replaced by replaced by KICC with Jomo’s statue prominent. I am told that he threw another one at the idea of the Bomas of Kenya Convention centre now under construction (at a lunch in Paris)—it is suspected reason was it would eclipse the KICC. To my friend Omar Hassan. You don’t owe anyone apology for speaking the truth. To my Kalenjin brothers and sisters — keep your cool. Even this will come to pass. Moi overcame it. William Ruto will. To the opposition. For the last so many elections, Kikuyu voters have been mobilized to elect one of our own, and to send Raila home. They have no reason to wake up early to vote for you. Uhuru and/or Gachagua have no Kikuyu votes to deliver. They are self serving charlatans. To Uhuru Kenyatta, Rigathi Gachagua, Uthamaki ideologues and ethnic chauvinists writ large, normal service is not resuming. The bogeyman act has run its course. And to my fellow sons and daughters of Gikuyu and Mumbi, I have three questions. What has Uthamaki done for us? How has President Ruto wronged us? Kihooto kiha? By Dr David Ndii - X pages 27th May 2026

Uhuru Kenyatta should have remained silent. See how Kenyans have decided to expose him, dating back to his time as Minister of Finance.

PRESS STATEMENT : SECURITY BREACH IN GANZE, KILIFI COUNTY

mad man gachagua is targeting businesses in kiambu and muranga

Gachagua cannot believe that the Parliament sacked him as President Ruto’s numero dos. He’s refused to move on. Someone please teach him the FIVE stages of grief — Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. He’s still at the DENIAL stage!

It seems Rigathi Gachagua is the engine of the opposition The guy had to hold a press conference while in London,UK, to address matatu fuel strike while other opposition figures remain quiet Gachagua also had to add some intel about Seychelles' room to make his press briefing captivating and arouse interest Riggy G will end up demanding presidency from the United Opposition team because he's fighting for his space Gachagua is still injecting in his absence, and he's releasing the most unspoken secrets. He's among those who will take this regime home. Meanwhile, Linda Mwananchi is about to make one political rally to inject. Will they go to Eldoret?