BY THOMAS KARIUKI.
NT EDITOR.
Raila Odinga’s swearing-in can only be described as an imprudent spectacle in world politics. Let us look at some of the misleading, irresponsible, mockery and or empty theatrics that Kenyans were subjected to in the bygone weeks.
WE ARE TOGETHER?
This was the most politically calculated perversity christened opposition unity. Wiper Leader, a NASA principal, the ‘prophesied’ deputy president Kalonzo Musyoka left Raila Odinga at the hour of need; he was nowhere to be seen-maybe he was hiding or he was unwell or he was watching his ‘president’ Odinga on social sites or he did not believe baba’s message of the journey to Canaan; hmmm no one knows. Days ago Musyoka was on the heels of Odinga in rallies in Ukambani and Luo Nyanza that would culminate into them being sworn in together as president and his deputy respectively. Who would have foreseen this, Raila Odinga ‘Prophet Moses’ could not discern the desertion?
Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula too could not make it for the swearing in. Was it out of fear, contempt, lacked transport to go to Uhuru Park the venue for the big day, political cunningness, were not blinded/overwhelmed by Raila’s untamed ambitions or they did not believe in Raila’s presidency? Despite being promised plump positions in Raila’s government, no one attended his swearing-in. I remember offering advice days ago that Raila should conduct a monitoring and evaluation report on his campaign, to revise some indicators, inputs, processes, activities or the implementers. I suggested that the problem could not be the campaign but him as a person. It fell on deaf ears.
One thing is that Raila managed to muscle his army behind him. Some of his party luminaries came for the swearing in with the mission of “kama ni mbaya ni mbaya” (if it is bad, let be bad). Where were Kalonzo, Mudavadi and Wetangula’s elected leaders?
WIPER LEADER KALONZO MUSYOKA OUTWITS RAILA IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE PACT.
IT WAS JUST A BAD JOKE TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY.
Allow me to say that the swearing in of Raila Odinga was just a bad joke that was taken too seriously. The reason why I say this is because Raila was pushing and shoving an establishment, an existing government. The fathers of old say that one cannot compete with an elephant to defecate. However, Raila decided to be sworn it anyway, despite all roads being closed, despite all laws indicating that it was illegal, despite being warned by all people who love him by heart, he decided to make the forward march.
Kalonzo, Mudavadi, and Wetangula allowed this honorable man beat himself to his game lest anyone ignores that politics is about interests. To remove Raila from the 2022 equation, Kalonzo and his luminaries could not soil their image on the international front. Being sworn in as president was Raila’s ambition, illusion, and fantasy; it was not Kalonzo’s, Mudavadi’s or Wetangula’s interest. I remember too writing a piece that Kalonzo outwitted Raila by allowing each party to have its own presidential candidates. This, I said would allow Kalonzo or Mudavadi and Wetangula bargain with the government in power. What a power thrashing.
WHAT THEN DROVE RAILA INTO BEING SWORN IN?
Raila followers pressurized him to the blink of his destruction. Raila’s promises to his people and the hopes he inspired on these people made him do the unthinkable. I discussed this with several opposition politicians who said that they thought that this man was sick. No one can go this far and even agree to die for the sake of a course no one knows where it would head or end. One told me, “we must follow on our leader whether he makes sense or not. At least some of us are this far politically because of him. If he says we bow, we will bow, if he says finish, we will finish.”
WHAT NEXT?
Raila should not ignore the deceit Kalonzo, Mudavadi and Wetangula played him into. They cheered him into destruction but he must not go down alone. Allow me to remind Raila that politics is about interest and if one’s interests are not met, there is no need to use a lot of energy where one’s interests are not met. Raila should not meet any of these cheats, charlatans, and impostors because they only use Raila for their gain and public image, derive their fame from being associated with him. With or without Kalonzo, Mudavadi, and Wetangula, Raila pulled big crowds to Uhuru Park. Raila should never forget this.
According to the 48 Laws of Power, Law 47 says do not go past the mark you aimed for; in victory, learn when to stop.
