By James Wafula.
Almost six months after Kenya’s hotly contested Presidential polls on August 9 2022, the dust has refused to settle as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga insists he was robbed of victory and now plans countrywide protests.
Odinga, 78, of the Azmio coalition has given President William Ruto, 57, a 14 day ultimatum to re-open election servers for scrutiny and reintroduce food subsidies to bring the cost of living down Odinga keeps insisting he won the poll and that Ruto’s 200,000 margin he beat him with was a “fabrication”.
Odinga’s deadline is March 10, 2023 almost coinciding with the day he made a symbolic political truce with now retired President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 9 2018. But many think is this time treading on thin ice!
It is noteworthy that US First Lady Jill Biden was in the country for a two day visit a clear demonstration of Washington confidence in the Kenya Kwanza regime.
The US First Lady praised government health care programmes and did not meet the opposition party mandarins.
President Ruto has warned that any overt anti-government mass protests will be dealt with firmly but within the law.
Ruto has laughed off threats by Odinga to lead a one million man march to state house to eject him in what could be viewed as North African style spring uprising of 2014- 2016. The President told Raila to stop assuming he is dealing with “cowards” taunting him to “bring it on!”
But even as Odinga keeps up the pressure through countrywide weekly rallies political watchers are warning that the country’s heavily indebted battered economy cannot afford fresh political upheavals.
Many say Odinga who has just lost his job as African Union Envoy for Infrustructure is pushing for a “handshake” deal like that of Uhuru but Ruto and his tough talking deputy Nderitu Gacahagau have roundly dismissed any such plan.
While Odinga is no stranger to treasonous acts like the Janaury 31 18 2018 swearing in as “peoples President” at Uhuru Park and his being link to the Kenya Airforce coup attempt against Moi in 1982, many including his staunch supporters are urging him not to take that route. They are saying after he failed to convince the supreme court judges that his votes were stolen and that he was the winner, the matter should have ended there. Western diplomats in Nairobi have said as much but a defiant Odinga has warned that they keep off Kenya issues.
Not a single judge out of the seven supported Odinga’s Presidential petition trashed as “hot air” full of fabrications and manipulated evidence. The court noted after marathon 10 day hearing that results on the IEBC public portal were above board saying the election was one of the most transparent, free and fair!
Odinga’s erstwhile staunch supporter and long serving COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has since made an about turn conceding openly that Ruto had ‘outsmarted” Odinga and won the trophy urging workers to remain loyal to the new regime. Atwoli who even visited Ruto at state house has since kept off Raila rallies and not raised any criticism on the regime even as Azmio whips Kenyans over rising costs of living. But Odinga and running-mate Ms Martha Karua and Wiper leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka are stepping up the pressure especially centering on the rising costs of living. (MF)■
