Raila Odinga, the washed out Luo political kingpin has changed his political strategy after failing to clinch presidency after five attempts. Odinga went into the last presidential elections funded by billions from top dynasties of the Kenyatta and Moi families.
The 78 year old opposition leader is now cutting ties with former President Uhuru and Gideon Moi as he ponders over fresh power plans with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Reliable sources revealed to Kenya Bulletin that Odinga is bitter, frustrated and full of regrets because he was blinded by handshake deal and failed to approach the 2022 poll race from a tactical angle.
He let himself down by struggling to carry Jubilee’s failures to the ballot where he appeared as a project by Uhuru Kenyatta who has now abandoned Azimio Coalition party to concentrate in his peace ambassador job.
His move to sideline Uhuru and Jubilee minions was exposed when his ODM party refused to share parliamentary service commission positions with Jubilee members.
Odinga is directing ODM to grab all the powerful positions as an indicator that things are back to the pre-handshake era where ODM and Jubilee never saw eye to eye.
In their new power plan, Odinga and Kalonzo have ruled out associating with the Kenyatta and Moi families and are out to fully divorce them before 2027 elections.
The relationship between Odinga and Uhuru has deteriorated since losing to Ruto with reports indicating that they rarely talk on phone and have never met since Uhuru paid him a visit at his Karen home when he nursing bruises and injuries after a fall.
Odinga is buying into the ODM rumor peddled by the likes of Hon. Babu Owino that Uhuru was not serious about campaigning for him and deploying state machinery to propel him to presidency.
Rumour mongers in ODM also claim that the manner in which Uhuru hijacked Raila’s campaigns was not in good taste and should be studied by political analysts and consultants.
But ODM was literally blinded by billions and power only to realize late in the day that all was not well on the ground as its campaign strategies had been punctured and fractured.
They are also claiming that despite promising to fund Raila’s fifth bid, the Kenyatta and Moi families made very little contributions. The Kenyatta Family contributed only Sh. 500 million while Gideon Moi donated only Sh.50 million to Odinga’s campaign kitty.
The contribution was too small considering that Odinga carried the burden of being labelled a member of the dynasties who was out to protect the ill gotten fortunes of Kenyatta and Moi families.
His association with Uhuru and Gideon also led to a serious voter apathy in his strongholds because millions of voters were not comfortable with Raila’s change of tact.
Given his advanced age and failing health, Odinga is expected to back Kalonzo 2027 to challenge Ruto in 2027. The two have been working closely as they sideline Uhuru’s Jubilee and sparing no time for Gideon’s Kanu party.
His plant is to bring Kambas, Luos and Luhyas together where Kalonzo will fly the presidential flag and have a Luhya as his deputy with Mukhisa Kituyi and Eugene Wamalwa names being considered.
Odinga believes the move will split the Bukusu that voted with Ruto and in case Ruto back’s Gachagua in 2032, a Luhya will inherit power from Kalonzo.
In his plan Kalonzo should for rule for one term and groom a new face 2032 but he does not show how they intend to capture the Mt. Kenya vote.
