Raila Odinga is the most wronged politician on the continent. If you like, ‘misused’
Raila fought the Moi system and the dreaded Special Branch for decades. He is NOT lucky to be alive. God willed he should
Nyayo House dungeons, manned by the then dreaded Special Branch are familiar with Raila. And a few others such as Mukaru Nganga, John Khaminwa, George Anyona, Gitobu Imanyara.
Stanley Njindo Matiba may have tested and swam in the filthy stinking water-drenched cells of Nyayo House and Nyati House. But Raila runs away with the crown of resistance
From the famous Mwakenya days to the clamour for multi-party, the struggle for the second, third and fourth liberation know Raila.
Most of the security agents who interrogated Raila have transitioned… To retirement or heaven.. Or in-between.
His incarnation and detention were not entirely unmerited. The law then allowed Kenyatta and Moi to process dissidents.
So when Moi decided to repeal section 2(a) of the Constitution to permit multi-party, KANU was shocked.
The hardliners in KANU cried like newborn babies. They were Vice President George Saitoti( Rigathi Gachagua), Kalonzo Musyoka(Kimani Ichungw’a), Ndolo Ayah(Moses Wetangula) Joseph Kamotho(Ndindi Nyoro).
Moi(President Ruto) had other ideas. Or was forced to sire them
Moi embraced multi-party politics but WARNED it will deeply divide Kenya into tribal lines.
Long before Moi went to meet his maker, Kenyans had become tribal zombies. And it’s getting worse
Moi loved Kenya. He wanted its politics to be inclusive. And for this, he cooperated with the opposition after defeating them… Or rigging them out.
In this spirit, he worked well with Jaramogi Oginga(Moi sees far like a giraffe…), Wamalwa Kijana(Pattni) and Mwai Kibaki(KANU is a Mugumo Tree…)
After defeating Kibaki, Raila, Charity Ngilu and Wamalwa in 1997, Moi decided to work with Raila… And appointed him to the cabinet.
And so Raila, for 2 years was the defacto Vice President… Leader of opposition… And a palliative political dose for Moi
This cooperation afforded Moi time to groom Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto into political stardom. And equip them on how to deal with Raila.
Kibaki and Raila’s handshake had nothing to do with the latter. It happened that Kibaki had won the Presidency with votes from the GEMA region alone… Exclusively
This handshake was forced on both parties by agents of reason. And remains a bright past for Kenya politics
Raila Uhuru handshake of 2008. Supreme Court nullified the 2017 election to showcase their teeth
Raila refused to participate in the repeat election: arguing it will sanitize Uhuru and Ruto’s alleged election fraud as called out by the Supreme Court.
The March 8 handshake is fully deserved given the circumstances. Unless the end is used to justify the means
The bipartisan arrangement being explored is also not out of line.
President Ruto comes closest to being the first politician to defeat Raila. And not leave evidence of election malpractice.
Jurisprudence in law presumes precedents. Raila, having been politically short-changed by the last 4 Presidents. He can’t trust.
And now the take home. When Raila was first detained by Moi in 1982…Ichungwa was a little under 10 years.
Ichungw’a would be cooling his heels in an office as a Finance Manager if Raila had not fought off Moi.
If it weren’t for Raila, President Ruto would be the MP for Eldoret North. Kneeling before Gideon Moi daily for political survival.
Rigathi Gachagua would be somewhere in Harambee House… reading a newspaper with little to do.
Kalonzo Musyoka would be a glorified firmer KANU Organising Secretary(Raila saved him from Moi and Uhuru York in 2002)
Uhuru would have been a one-term President between 2002 and 2007…presiding over a bankrupt economy
Kibaki would have retired a bitter DP Chairman in 2002…after losing to Uhuru and Moi.
