RAILA AND POLITICS:

RAILA IS STILL RELEVANT TO KENYA’S POLITICS

By Maritim Kipngetich 

Raila Odinga’s political mileage is important in the Kenya’s politics. He has served in different capacities ranging from being the leader of different parties over time, being in charge of different ministries and being the second Kenya’s Premier after losing 2007 election where he was running for presidency.

Raila’s political relevance started way back in 1982 when he was cited as one of the key architects of a coup deter which aimed at ousting the then President Daniel Moi from power. He was jailed for six years and later released. After his release, Mr. Raila (pictured) never stopped politics as he agitated for multi-partism in Kenya. That also became a threat to his life and he opted to seek asylum in Norway where he stayed for some time before he came back and contested to be a Member of Parliament of Langata constituency where he represented until 2013.
The question is, is Raila still relevant to today’s politics in Kenya even after losing three presidential elections?
Raila is still an intoxicating public figure today. He is a newsmaker. Whether he is inside the country or not, he is the news of the day.

Whenever opposition doyen Raila Odinga sneezes, the side opposite catches a cold. Despite being declared the loser in last year’s election, Mr Odinga remains the centre of gravity of Kenya’s politics. Mr Odinga bestrides Kenya’s political landscape like a colossus. Newspapers and TV stations carry his mug at the drop of a hat. He’s not only the news. He sells them. He’s loved and loathed in equal measure. But not even his most ardent haters can afford to ignore him.

The challenges in his coalition have never shaken him. Instigation started early this year when the ODM party (the party with many supporters in the coalition_ Cord) was to have internal elections. The election was later disrupted by security officers (popularly known as men in black) hired by the party to supplement other state security officers. The latest wrangle in the party is the one which involved the party director who was stormed out of the party by angry Members of the County Assembly of Nairobi County; he was accused of being a jubilee mole.

Kenyans can never imagine politics without the name Raila being mentioned. Though critics want him resign to pave way for other young leaders to carry the flag of the coalition in future elections, they still find it elusive to find someone who can replace him.

The chances of him being a presidential candidate in the next general election is high since there is no one so far ready to take over from him.