The former Prime Minister Raila Odinga knows how to mourn a hero; he did it in the burial of the former president Daniel Moi. In a ceremony decorated with military pomp, Raila stood out; he chanted and rocked with his signature whisk.
But in the same event, Baringo Senator Gideon Moi inherited a replica of late father’s barton (fimbo ya nyao) that’s a big thing in politics, The senior Moi was the professor of Kenyan politics, that coupled ‘sympathy’, Gideon has moved a notch higher.
And that will eventually affect the relationship between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga. It is hard to share attention or ‘love’ between two brothers; it is not working between Raila and DP William Ruto. The deputy is part of the presidency but from the look of things he is now operating from the periphery, Raila is at the core.
President Uhuru Kenyatta mourned Mzee more like a father than a former president and even when he went inspect the renovation works where the service was held, Nyayo Stadium, the president personally drove himself there like a responsible son would do.
Gideon has some sort of gained presidential status since Mzee was laid to rest. He looks like he must just be in the presidential ballots in 2022, the least, a serious running mate. That journey is already making baby steps, they are rebranding KANU and at some stage towards 2022 the president will have to back it and Raila will have it bad if he is left in the math. He must be hornets to himself, by now Raila should know who does not like his presidency, even the dynasty is not really united.
And if ODM was bright like their color screams, they would not be over celebrating the ‘rift’ between the president and his deputy. They have been limping since William Ruto left them. This is when they should shut up, sleep and dream if they can have Ruto again or at least have a deal with him. Ruto’s king making abilities are not in question. They tried with Kalonzo in 2013 and failed, again in 2017 together with Mudavadi and still failed till they boycotted repeat polls.
In 2022 Kalonzo Musyoka will not be hanging loose for them to convince some two months to elections, Kalonzo has been ‘saving the situation’ by being a running mate. Serious boys are planning right now and that includes going deep into the pockets, working with professionals and giving structured statements and reactions to current events.
But these guys are so into BBI and odd jobs like impeaching Waititu, rubber stamping projects and calling the DP to step aside. Complete noise that they can’t even advance in the floor of the house. A strategist should study and understand the changes brought in by the few ‘political kilos’ Gideon gained last week.
One should not just sit back and think Gideon will be his running mate. The guys who have been there are all ‘politically finished’. Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka, both stand no chances in 2022. Those former vice presidents and Raila’s running mates will lose even as running mates.
That means Gideon Moi will destroy his presidential ambitions if he begins as Raila’s running mate. He doesn’t want to commit that mistake but very soon The Orange Brigade will begin ‘alluding’ in funerals and BBI rallies that ‘Gideon should help Jakom serve one term alafu achukue’. They are known and predictable.
With fresh bloods like Ruto, Gideon Moi, Alfred Mutua, Nazlin, name them, people will not only be manipulated to ‘consider’ that people should retire but even the blind will see the candidate seeking retirement approval. No one is blind to generational change in Kenyan politics.
Maina Kamanda will be shouting that ‘Raila must retire’ at the same time some of his starving sycophants will be shifting allegiance.
BBI is around now but when it goes, fame and some close friends will go with it. It’s natural for people to think and act different after certain events.
