- Will Raila Odinga Abandon Uhuru Kenyatta For William Ruto?
- Political analysts say that Mr Odinga could be exploring several options and he must settle on one that will make him politically relevant now and in 2027. His toughest decision is whether to swallow his pride and work with President William Ruto and assume his role as the leader of the official opposition. If he settles on that then it would mean he abandons retired president Uhuru Kenyatta
By The Weekly Vision
ODM leader Raila Odinga is currently facing a very tricky and complicated political situation which may force him to make difficult political decisions in his long political career. Mr Odinga, who is said to be like a cat with nine lives seems to be cornered, though he has in the past come out stronger when confronted with similar situations like he faces now.
Political analysts say that Mr Odinga could be exploring several options and he must settle on one that will make him politically relevant now and in 2027. His toughest decision is whether to swallow his pride and work with President William Ruto and assume his role as the leader of the official opposition. If he settles on that then it would mean he abandons retired president Uhuru Kenyatta.
The decision Mr Odinga will end up making on this matter will either make him or break him politically. Analysts who have been following political events as they unfold opined that he is most likely to abandon combative politics against President William Ruto and accept a well-structured position of leader of the official opposition complete with a shadow cabinet.
Should he accept that position then it means he will have to betray his brother Uhuru Kenyatta who has since taken a hardline stand against his successor William Ruto, who has since dared the president and his deputy to continue with their political threats against him at their peril. It is known that Uluru’s insistence that he shall not quit politics as a condition of getting his pensions and other state benefits will feel betrayed by Raila Odinga should he accept to work with the president.
All said and done, with the bipartisan talks progressing, sources divulged that the president and his team in Kenya Kwanza have ceded grounds on one agenda of reconstituting the IEBC selection panel. What is still in contention is whether to allow The Cherera four back to the commission.
However, considering that Uhuru Kenyatta has retired and Raila Odinga is still active in politics and focusing on 2027 although he may not contest but to support Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, he has to settle for an option that will not cut his political career prematurely.
Based on the above, Raila Odinga must settle on whether to betray Uhuru Kenyatta for the sake of his political career of work with President Ruto. If he sticks with Uhuru Kenyatta then it means he must continue pushing for reforms and demonstrations to push Kenya Kwanza out of power over alleged rigged presidential elections.
But Uhuru Kenyatta is also equally in almost a similar situation. Sources say some of his allies have been pushing him to do a handshake with William Ruto and abandon Raila Odinga for the sake of a peaceful retirement. With the president’s secret hand being seen in Jubilee Party leadership wrangles, Uhuru can easily give up the leadership of Jubilee and swallow his pride to join Kenya Kwanza as a coalition partner. In politics, nothing is impossible. Analysts say the larger Kenyatta family is most likely to convince Uhuru to let Jubilee go so that their interests both political and in terms of business can still enjoy the protection of the government.
