Tribal card has for many years been played in Kenyan politics. It had become a norm. If a politician have influence on bigger community, then by default they can win elections.
However, 2022 elections proved otherwise.In the run up to the elections, the cost of living was skyrocketing. This prompted the two leader to woo Kenyans to vote on their favor.
The economy card surfaced to be main area of focus in campaigns. The then deputy president William Ruto distanced himself from their Jubilee Administration’s economic woes.
Azimio flag bearer Raila Odinga walked a tight rope between attacking Jubilee Administration whose leader Uhuru Kenyatta backed him.
While Ruto argued that Raila’s presence in Jubilee Administration was to be blamed for economic woes, he couldn’t outrightly attack Jubilee Administration as he was part of it and once in a while he took credit for the administration’s projects.
Raila on the other hand, blamed Ruto for not helping Uhuru to ameliorate the economy. It was at this very moment when the two camps found that economy was the main concern to most Kenyans. People were facing serious economic problems that included high cost of living.
Additionally, high cost of living was indiscriminate as every Kenyan irrespective of tribe, race or political affiliation was feeling the economic pain. Upon realizing that, Azimio and Kenya Kwanza had to go back to the drawing board to find an alternative way of getting votes.
Armed with well crafted manifestos, the two sides set hit the road with a pledge to turn around the economy of the country.With phrases like “we are going to reduce the cost of unga” to “one county one product”, the politics had transition from tribal to economy.
One year down the line, Kenya Kwanza is struggling to deliver its economic promises. Azimio on the other hand, Azimio held demonstrations to protest against the high cost of living and later through bipartisan talks, they are championing for reduction of cost of living.
All these political moves by both political outfits are still finding economy as the central place to battle it out with their rival coalition.
And as it stands the bottom line of Kenyan politics have forever changed to from tribal to economy and is expected to remain that way as economic issues resonates the most to electorates.
