Something is happening in the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya house. It is not new, though. It is symptomatic of the wooing process towards a marriage.
But this wooing and dowry negotiations are taking a bit too long. When they do take this long and winding route, they have a way of wearing out the concerned parties.
The people on the side of the bride seem to be coming up with new demands every other time the groom party visits. The brothers seem to be asking for different colours of suits every day and the aunties’s shades of desired khangas seem to be changing every other hour.
In the meantime, the groom’s rivals are still on the fence salivating and sending emissaries to the bride and her people. Maybe this is what is causing the growing appetite at the bride’s homestead.
But for how long will the bride hold on? He, too, has a few other admirers smiling suggestively every time his disillusioned entourage passes by from their visits to the first choice suitors’.
Azimio La Umoja Movement is, arguably, based on the principle of lasting national unity, a decisive and permanent departure from the norm of Kenyan politics, where a section of Kenyans have felt more accommodated than others.
It is for this reason that most presidential hopefuls such as governors Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni), Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) have shelved their bids for the top seat to endorse a man whose personality and profile reflects the face of the transitional moment.
Raila Odinga has earned the endorsement of leaders from all parts of the country based on merit. The enigma of Kenyan politics is rightfully taunted as the patron of democracy, post-colonial freedom and devolution. His consistent and selfless fight to make these pillars of a nation the reality that they are in Kenya is what makes him the right man to launch the country into the new era of unity and economic freedom.
So good a match is Raila for this role that he has earned the trust of his political nemesis, President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose Jubilee Party has partnered with ODM and other like-minded parties to deliver this much needed victory for the good of the nation.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has been with Raila in two presidential contests. This alone, is a sign that he believes in Raila’s ability to lead this country to the next social, economic and political order.
During the 2013 and 2017 polls, Kalonzo traversed this country, telling Kenyans of the promise that a Raila presidency holds for all Kenyans. The promise of peace, development, fairness and plenty bounty for all and sundry; Canaan the Promised Land, they called it.
Raila’s political character has not changed. He joined hands with President Kenyatta to restore peace and calm after the hotly contested 2017 polls and has used his experience and stature as the AU Infrastructure envoy to advise Uhuru on Kenya’s development. All this, without a substantive position in the Kenyatta administration.
By being the leader of the dissolved Nasa, Raila led by example by showing his fellow leaders and supporters that the peace and unity of a country was beyond personal ambition for power and political competition. This has been the man Kalonzo and his colleagues chose to follow over the last decade.
Kalonzo, Senator Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya} and Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) initiated the disolution of Nasa and the Registrar of Political Parties holds the records to prove this. Once the alliance was legally dissolved, it goes without saying that any agreements made under it became void.
Another point to note is that Raila never ascended to the presidency and, therefore, the Nasa principals should have been true enough to keep up the fight until they succeeded.
Instead, Mudavadi and Wetang’ula deserted Raila to support his political nemesis, protesting his unwillingness to endorse them for presidency. Funny thing, they are not even sure what their role is in the new partnership, betraying malice against Raila as their only drive.
On this, Kalonzo has the chance to be different. He should display the resolve of a real leader and continue his genuine support for Raila’s “Mandela moment”.
Political power is anchored on numerical strength and clearly, Raila enjoys the numerical strength nationally, as evidenced by his endorsements from all corners of Kenya. Kalonzo enjoys the backing of his political stronghold, but numerically speaking, he is no match for Raila.
All the three governors in Kalonzo’s backyard have unanimously declared their confidence in Raila and are sure to deliver an impressive size of the vote basket from the area.
The sole purpose of going into this election as the Azimio coalition is to get victory and with it a chance to lead Kenya to the next generation of unity, inclusivity, development and prosperity, both for the current generations and posterity.
From the numerical state of affairs, Raila stands out as the best person to fly the flag. Kalonzo adds value to the coalition, but should he decide to go it alone, he will definitely fail, and fail in a big, resounding way.
All Kenyans are looking at him to exhibit the resolve and truth to purpose required of a leader and support the best ticket of the time — Azimio. How he plays this moment will be a huge indicator to Kenyans on if they can trust him to make the best strategic decisions.
This will have a huge impact on the ability of Kenyans to trust him in the near future. BY THE STAR