MURKOMEN SAYS RAILA SHOULD BE RESPECTED.

Slightly over a decade ago, Kenyan political duels were decided at Uhuru Park. Your followers were counted by how many people attended your rally. If you needed a verified account you had to have some fans climbing on trees, sometimes not because the space is full but out of your cult following and fanatism.

Few people had verified accounts before 2010. The blue mark of popularity was rare. The longest politician to have the blue mark was Raila Odinga. His account was verified in 1992 after he joined the space in 1982. Others were Matiba, Kibaki, Ntimama, Nyachae to mention a few. Out of all, it’s Raila who has never had his account banned. Though Kibaki never got banned, he deactivated his account a few years after earning the blue badge.

All this started changing around 2010. Popularity moved from Uhuru Park to Facebook and Twitter. We had a new crop of leaders who had millions of followers but instead of them converging at Uhuru Park, they interacted through Facebook usernames and Twitter handles. Verification now would come with a literal blue badge placed next to your name. The first crop of politicians to capitalize on this new wave were President Uhuru and Deputy President William Ruto. Employing a group of techno savvy geeks, they used this new sphere of convergence to catapult themselves to State House and Harambee House respectively.

Not only does meetings now happen virtually, political discourse is now happening online. Recently former Majority Leader of the Senate Kipchumba Murkomen learnt about the political purge that would leave him with a salary of measly 10,000 Kenyan shillings online. He responded in kind, going in a complete Twitter meltdown Trump style though to his defense he quoted Bible verses instead of tweeting from a bunker about domination.

It’s not yet evident if Murkomen has now realised how virtual media is a key tool in politics but he’s learning. His posts have been more mature aimed at winning the hearts of many. But then what else would you do when you have been delegated to opposition while still in power?

After President Kenyatta said that Siaya County had only 10 isolation beds, Kericho Senator was quick to take the war to Twitter the new political Uhuru Park. He posted, “Hey Siaya people…get serious bwana….With 10 beds ( 9 already occupied) …You have caused us a further 30 days lockdown.If you meet a Jasiaya anywhere..pinch them !! I will start with @orengo_james on tuesday in senate. “Kipchumba Murkomen still nursing the wounds of his ousting posted a sarcastic reply, ”Respect Baba Leave Siaya alone.”

We miss seeing people on top of trees chanting Raila’s name but it’s evident that Raila is the first politician in Kenya to get his account verified both at Uhuru Park and on Social Media. The Enigma.