By James Wafula in Nairobi.
Tension is running high in Kampala as Kenya’s 2022 transition elections approach with long serving Uganda President Yoweri Museveni crossing his fingers on his choice carrying the day.
Museveni, 78, in power since 1986, is widely believed to support Kenya Deputy PresidentDr William Ruto.
Museveni has had rather warm but frosty ties with Raila Odinga, four time presidential contender which took a plunge over the disputed tiny rocky Lake Victoria island of Mighingo occupied by Uganda soldiers.
At one time the two historically close neighbours with relatives living on both sides came close to war over the tilapia fish rich island but Raila declared there was no need to “spill blood over fish..”
Museveni who enjoys close ties with both President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto is widely said to be against an Odinga presidency in 2022. Museveni is said to be uncomfortable with Odinga’s radical stand on democracy and good governance roundly denouncing election rigging in Kampala. To prove his unease with Odinga, in 2007 Museveni supported Mwai Kibaki who barely managed to secure a controversial second term blamed on massive election rigging…
The violent deadly post election protests against “Kibaki victory” who was sworn in at night, claimed 1350 lives and displaced 650,000. .
Odinga has in the past accused Museveni of sending his Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF)soldiers to harass Kenyan fishermen in Mighingo. Odinga has also kept dismissing elections in Kampala as a “shameful circus” which is a blot to Africa’s nascent democracy.
Many say if Odinga prevails next year and becomes Kenya’s fifth President, it would no longer be business as usual in East African regional politics. Museveni would cease to be the regional elderly political kingpin calling the shots. It is said Odinga government would hardly tolerate the UPDF mischief in Mighingo. Analysts say there could be heightened tension if won Kenyan elections in 2022 and Museveni does not back down on Migingo.
It is for this reason that Museveni even as he leads the country in marking 59 years of independence, is said to be painfully aware spending sleepless nights crafting strategies that will ensure a friendly post-Uhuru regime in Nairobi.
Matters are not helped by growing possibility of the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) grand alliance agreeing to front Hon Raila Odinga against Ruto in 2022 . Many say this would most likely be won by Odinga ■
