Friday, December 10, 2021 will be a defining moment for Raila Amolo Odinga as he hosts who is who in the country and beyond during the Azimio La Umoja declaration at Kasarani stadium in Nairobi.
Indeed, this event could be likened to a national celebration. Strikingly, the event is being held on the eve of Jamhuri Day.
When Mt Kenya Foundation hosted Raila at Safari Park Hotel (neighbouring the stadium), they didn’t mince words that they are fully behind Raila’s candidature for the 5th presidency of this country.
No candidate has ever failed to win the presidency after receiving backing from Mt Kenya Foundation since the dawn of multiparty democracy.
As expected, political jealousy has kicked in fast and furious. Tangatanga’s UDA wing has quickly reacted, followed by One Kenya Alliance (OKA) and both have dismissed Mt Kenya Foundation’s support for Raila as nothing because it wont translate into votes.
In other words, the two political wings are lying to Kenyans that Raila has no votes and even if he has, such votes are inadequate to propel him to the Presidency.
Is is true that Raila Amolo Odinga has no votes in this country?
Is it true that a man who has more than twice won the hearts of millions and came close to winning the Presidency has no followers to back his candidature in 2022?
Unless I am living in planet Mass, I totally disagree with that notion.
Political leaders who have entered denial mode believe so and are telling Kenyans that one, Raila Amolo Odinga is politically kaput! Seriously?
Back to Mt Kenya Foundation, Raila’s political competitors are suffering from what I would define as,”Political mental block” to dismiss Mt Kenya influence on who becomes the next Head of State.
If Mt Kenya Foundation’s desires and expectations is protection of business interests, a thriving economy devoid of corruption and mismanagement, it follows that those are the desires and expectations of Western, Nyanza, Coast, North Eastern and Rift-Valley business communities as well.
If those tycoons’ major worry is the protection of their community against ethnic instigated violence and land grabbing, these are concerns of tycoons from other regions too.
While those competing with Raila are only seeing tycoons from one region, truth is most tycoons in this country are pro-Raila.
Perhaps the slogan and campaign pitting dynasties ( wealthy) versus the hustlers (poor) has something to do with it.
This same denial has afflicted leaders who are dismissive of the hustler nation sloganeering.
To say that the unemployed in the country find the hustler narrative captivating is an understatement.
Clever and strategic politicians like Raila Odinga understand this too well and this is among the reasons he has been engaging the youth, while embracing the business communities across the country.
Everything said and done, the former Prime Minister has gotten the political script perfectly well this time round.
Saturday’s proclamation by Raila could not have come at a better time.
While one of his strongest opponent has been lying that he is not campaigning, Raila has not made the mistake of coming out as a liar.
It is worthy noting that for reasons unknown, given that this particular opponent has confidence of a mule, he cannot resign and ride on the popularity he so proclaims when there is still time to do so.
Raila’s timing to declare his candidature is spot on and he has literally taken the lead in the overcrowded Presidential race.
By the time laggards declare they are in the race because some are waiting for February date to resign from government jobs, the political landscape will have shifted a great deal.
Certainly, this shift could only be to Raila’s benefit.
Another thing to note is the fallacy of hustler revolution.
From where I stand, taking ethnic considerations into account, all potential Presidential candidates have hustlers behind them.
In other words any Presidential hopeful who harbours a notion that he or she has all hustlers behind them is either daydreaming or politically naive.
Another thing, people from Mt Kenya region should not forget that outside the mountain and Rift-Valley regions, the other ethnic communities are sick and tired of the Presidency rotating among Kikuyus and Kalenjins.
Unless one is in terrible denial or possesses an indomitable ego, you dismiss this factor at your own peril.
In fact, this is what will neutralise the hustler once and for all when electioneering commences next year.
For the moment, Baba appears to be the candidate to beat in this political game.
Add the push by powers that be and the fate of political pretenders is completely sealed come August 9, 2022.
It appears as if Raila Amolo Odinga’s political destiny was providence plan after all.
How else can you explain that even people who never contemplated voting for him are vowing to do so without hesitation?
Kaunda wa Muchunku
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