By Kingsley Oluoko, [Photo courtesy]
Do not hate on Raila Amolo Odinga now. At least not today. History bears the record, and if erased, Kenya’s poll agency IEBC, should have a backup to prove that Odinga has contested for the presidency for five times. For five times in a row. To lead and be the government.
From the campaign trails, to the post election petitions, the goal was always cut out. And not once was he contesting to occupy the opposition seat.
And when fate had it and in some way his opponents had some into the high office, Odinga has gladly taken the watchdog dog with one resounding call. ”ingekuwa Sisi ndio tuko serikalini, we would have done…”
From his eyes and his voice, his thirst to hold power has always been evident, enumerating his manifesto granularly of what his times would have been if atleast be made fried sardines from state House.
Not a single day, was Raila after the opposition slot.
And while it landed on his plate for being the majority in the minority by default it goes without saying that even so, He still wanted to be in govt
Being in govt is sweet. There is a famous saying used in the middle wast. ‘be in govt is like swerving in oil’ and now it has been coined to ‘niko mafutani’ If my slang is to go by
For the five stabs Odinga has made for state House, in all he made in reaches. However, not to find his full entry but have his way to gather the govt pleasantries . But the main goal has always been in to be in govt
Often symbolical to a famous English team Arsenal that actually he supports, Odinga has had a dose of what being in govt is.
However it is now becoming very evident that that has never been the dream of his close supporters. Subconsciously while they subscribed to the Azimo, NASA, Cord PNU or even ODM philosophies of running the govt his voters had slotted him and reserved him his opposition seat.
Undeterred, they never denied to play watchdog on the govt. They never died to be whistleblower on greasy state induced corruption. Not even to support anti government corruption leave on the party threatening ICC and local court actions.
Recently, Odinga has been on the receiving end of a severe backlash after he opted for a sweet heart deal with political nemesis William Ruto.
Riding on his AUC campaign, Odinga has for the first time shown no interest for himself to be in govt but the ghost haven’t stopped haunting.
For him to replace Moussau faki, atleast a round with the govt in bed will not hurt. And maybe for a makeup, just four slots for nominees to firm up the deal.
Suffice to say his vision had only been clear to his eyes and remained jargon to his followers.
The state’s backing in his African Union commission bid has propelled his decision to join the government quite sooner because without it then the the stone that the builder rejected could not been the cornerstone.