Biden-Kamala win is a lesson in humility, service to society
US President-elect Joe Biden.
Whoever becomes the head resident of the White House in January 20, 2021 is a province of the gods.
After a grueling contest in the US presidential election, former Vice President Joe Biden triumphed over President Donald Trump by securing both the popular vote and a majority in the Electoral College that would determine the next occupant of the White House.
To say it was a hard-fought victory will be an understatement. While Trump has declared he would move to the US Supreme Court to challenge the victory, which he claims, without evidence, was rigged. It is important that Kenyans and especially Deputy President William Ruto, draw crucial lessons from the US election as the country prepares for the 2022 General Election.
One is the importance of being loyal and respectful to the boss, in this case President Uhuru Kenyatta, regardless of whether, as an individual, you have ambitions of your own. Dr Ruto has set his sight on his State House bid in 2022.
Mr Biden’s relationship with former US President Barack Obama blossomed during their eight years in the White House. It defied the inevitable challenges that come with any relationship between two people to become deeply personal.
As a governing partner, his loyalty was unquestionable, the age difference between them notwithstanding.
He was always at his service, especially in undertaking critical missions outside of the US, including in hotspots such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
For his loyalty and friendship, one of Mr Obama's last acts as president was to award a surprised Biden with the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award.
A second lesson for Dr Ruto is that even in politics, patience pays.
“To Joe Biden, the scrappy kid from Scranton who became Delaware’s favourite son,” Obama said during his speech in January 2017. “You were the first decision I made as a nominee, and it was the best. Not just because you have been a great vice president, but because in the bargain, I gained a brother. We love you and Jill like family and your friendship has been one of the greatest joys of our lives.”
Can President Kenyatta say the same of his deputy at the end of his tenure?
As the president has variously stated, he was all but ready to fulfill his pre-2013 promise to campaign for Dr Ruto after his second term but he prematurely hit the campaign trail (running in the opposite direction) instead of waiting for him to pass the baton as happens in a relay.
Despite running for the presidency twice and his age advancing, the US President-elect was comfortable bidding his time and he has finally been rewarded.
Many Kenyans may not be aware that Mr Biden was ready to contest for the top job four years ago but he was persuaded by Mr Obama not to. While the reason Obama said he was not comfortable with his run was that he had recently suffered a personal tragedy following the death of his son Beau and thus should take time to heal, it was also true that the former President favoured Hillary Clinton, who lost to Mr Trump after failing to get the magic 270 Electoral College delegates despite winning the popular vote as Mr Biden later revealed in his memoir, “Promise Me, Dad."
Ms Hillary Clinton was among the first to endorse his 2022 run while Mr Obama actively campaigned for him in last-ditch efforts to win votes in crucial swing states, drawing in the youth, women and black American votes that made all the difference in the narrow contest.
