Raila Odinga’s cooperation with Ruto solidifies his role as master of handshakes
Odinga’s political opponents have, however, opposed his cooperation moves, terming them selfish.
The signed cooperation between President William Ruto and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga to work together under the broad-based government arrangement has solidified Odinga as the master of handshakes with his once political foes.
From former president Daniel Moi to now William Ruto, Odinga’s political acumen of getting into governments of his political competitors in the name of national unity, cooperation or for development’s sake has compounded allies and foes.
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The Eastleigh Voice explored political agreements Odinga has made with working presidents and also spoke to analysts who describe the opposition politician’s antics as survival moves that have made him stay longer in the game.
According to lawyer Javas Bigambo, a governance specialist and political communication strategist, Odinga continues to certify himself as a political legend, a master tactician at self-preservation and remodelling his political frame.
“The choice of having a pact with President Ruto is valid in law through extant political liberties in Kenya and lifts a further lid on the character of Kenya's democracy. Ours is a yearning, yawning young democracy that is still evolving,” argues Bigambo.
Political interests
In his view, the pact places political interests on the scale of nationalism and national interests, which cannot fail to be appreciated.
“Lastly, it demonstrates that Raila knows how to capitalise on his mass following for beneficial negotiations for national and political good.”
Ruto’s “handshake” with Odinga comes after the March 2018 pact between the ODM leader and former President Uhuru Kenyatta which ushered in political calmness following the acrimonious 2017 General Election.
It was one of three previous ‘handshakes’ for Odinga since the one brokered by the late former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2008 and 20 years since another with former president Daniel Arap Moi in 1998.
Odinga’s first political truce or pact was in 1998 with Moi after the 1997 General Election. Kibaki, who came second, protested the outcome of the poll and took a petition to the Court of Appeal, which he lost on a technicality for not personally serving Moi.
Odinga, who came third, surprised friends and foes when he met Moi at his Kabarak home a day after the election and agreed to co-operation between Kanu and NDP. He was also not to contest Kanu’s win besides halting all planned demos.
As a result of the cooperation, Odinga was appointed to the lucrative Ministry of Energy as minister and his close allies got government jobs.
Political Analyst Mark Bichachi said Odinga’s ability to enter into pacts with each president even after assurances that there would be no such pacts has made him a tactful and cunning politician.
“He is for sure a shrewd politician with or without this deal. He remains the singular most impactful politician in over three decades of Kenyan politics who has not become a president. He offers President Ruto a new voter block as well as insurance against demos,” argues Bigambo.
Saitoti, Kamotho woes
The Kanu-NDP deal that Odinga brokered later matured into a merger in 2002 and its strengthened bromance consummated at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani during the Kanu national party elections where Odinga was elected secretary-general as then vice president, the late Prof George Saitoti, the late Joseph Kamotho were unceremoniously expended.
It is at Kasarani that Moi and Odinga shook hands, the first of the many ‘handshakes’ for the former Prime Minister.
However, Moi had other ideas.
Despite Odinga sacrificing his liberation credentials, he ended up the loser as his hope of succeeding Moi ended up in smoke after Moi chose Uhuru Kenyatta as his preferred successor.
The Kanu cooperation failed him and he later led a bitter walkout from Kanu alongside most of Moi’s former allies who turned into disgruntled elements, including Saitoti and Kamotho, to form the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ahead of the next elections in which he sought a joint opposition candidate to take on Kenyatta.
Odinga had initially agreed with former powerful cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae to back his Ford People candidature, but backpedalled and declared ‘Kibaki Tosha’ at a rally in Uhuru Park paving the way for a Kibaki presidency.
After the 2007 bitterly contested election that plunged the country into ethnic strife, taking international mediators for the two sides to reach a truce, there was a ‘handshake’ between Kibaki and Odinga at Harambee House, brokered by Koffi Annan.
Come the 2017 contest, Odinga boycotted a fresh election ordered by the Supreme Court after his successful challenge to Kenyatta’s win and the country yet again faced the prospect of plunging into widespread chaos before he had a handshake with Kenyatta.
Odinga’s political opponents have, however, opposed his cooperation moves, terming them selfish.
In a bold tirade aimed at Ruto, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asserted that the president's political survival heavily hinged on Odinga, saying, "The President's current life support is Raila Odinga. If we switch it off, it will be the end."
Gachagua further appealed to the ODM leader to align with his camp but was adamant he was capable of flooring the president without the former Prime Minister's help.
"If the mzee (Raila) and he (Ruto) want to team up, there is no problem. Our journey is unstoppable with or without him," the former DP added.
"We are not desperate for his participation. The numbers are good and it will be an easy job."
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