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| Raila Odinga with her daughter during her wedding. |
He has distinguished himself as an enigma of Kenyan politics having friends and foes alike. Recent polls have placed him ahead of the pack in the 2012 presidential race. He is the most experienced politician among all the potential presidential candidates having fought tirelessly for respective political processes in the country. It is instructive to note that he was pivotal to the uprooting of the KANU regime in which the economy was plundered generously and political assassinations were the rod of dissenting voices. His role in the 1982 has not yet been demystified. To the tyro politicians, demonizing Raila has been the order to political supremacy in their respective turf.
According to Dr, Badejo, the author of-"Raila Odinga: An Enigma in Kenyan Politics", the book is an excellent introduction for the uninitiated to the complex landscape of Kenyan politics.
Kenya’s recent history reads like a Shakespearian tale, full of dramatic intrigue, intricate conspiracies and king-making plots.
The political scene has been dominated by two figures in particular – Jomo Kenyatta, the country’s inaugural President, and Daniel Toroitich arap Moi, who was Kenyatta’s successor as President. The current president, Mr. Kibaki does not have much to write home as a key political player during his term apart from some of the political embarrassments he has had to face for instance during the election of the Speaker, Marende and the swearing in of MPS and the botched 2007 elections notwithstanding. As he is looking forward to exit from the political the most formidable of all the candidates eyeing the seat is the Prime Minister. However, that will not come by in a silver plate. Time seems to be running out for him as his advisers seem to be coming short of ideas to consolidate the ODM party.
The Nyanza- mafia- many political allies of the prime minister are scarcely impressed by how those coalescing around the president especially from Luo Nyanza are treating them. Some of the utterances of some of the Nyanza MPs who have undying love for the PM are not only retrogressive but a backlash to the PM’s efforts to exhibit a nationalistic figure. The Nyanza –mafia are a real threat to the cohesion of the country as their tone and attitude to political processes which is rarely popular to them is wanting. They are seen as mini-dictators and maxi-sycophants with the spirit for vengeance.
Running mate- the choice of the PM’S running mate will be a determining aspect to his successful candidature as the next president. Currently, the second favorite to the PM does not have a significant clout on his backyard and the sooner the PM underscores this, the better for him and his supporters. Perhaps if he picks a lady as a running mate, he is going to garner some extra political mileage since he will be seen to be following the spirit of the new constitution in as far as gender representation is concerned. And for history’s sake she will be the first lady vice president in Kenya-a remarkable achievement for women leadership.
This are the two aspects of which if he adopts an appropriate matrix, his shot for presidency will be easier.
