With 2022 race to the house on top of the hill quickly taking shape, ODM leader Raila Odinga and his Jubilee counterpart William Ruto are busy assembling their ‘rifles’ ready for the fierce fight.
The current exchange of words witnessed between the two leaders backed by their respective brigades could signify many things. What many do not know is that these wars could mean either two things; Raila Odinga versus President Uhuru Kenyatta or the handshake versus 2022!
Raila has always looked for a way to revenge on Uhuru. To him, the Kenyatta family betrayed his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Uhuru betrayed Raila.
In 2013/2017, Deputy President William Ruto supported Uhuru to continue that betrayal. Raila tried to take Uhuru to the International Criminal Court but he failed.
Raila Odinga could have found this to be the right time to revenge on the Kenyatta family by simply by alienating Uhuru from Rift Valley and Central Kenya blocks.
Right now the President stands isolated. Many of his business and political friends have abandoned him.
If today for instance, Raila moves out of the handshake, who would Uhuru Kenyatta turn to? Ruto and his people are very clear the marriage is now being dissolved and as we talk, Ruto his planning his 2022 ourney alone without Uhuru.
The whole thing about the handshake was revenge. Uhuru will not support Raila or Ruto come 2022. He will support a person from Mt Kenya region or either choose to Support Geion son of his political father Moi as a away of ‘Kurudisha mkono’.
In my view, Ruto now has decided to take the President head-on. And it is paying dividends.
I don’t think the handshake will survive in the next month or two. Uhuru will retrace his footsteps and make a handshake with Ruto.
Today, Ruto is criticising Raila and Raila has a handshake with the President. I think Ruto has decided to take the fight right to the doorstep of the President. Uhuru has no basis to challenge Ruto.
Of great importance is that only few ODM Nyanza Members of Parliament and a few Coast MPs support and defend the President. What happened with the huge Jubilee brigade that Uhuru once owned who could traverse the whole nation?
I think we are likely to see the end of handshake and President Kenyatta in a lame duck position very early before 2022.
The defining moment is April. Ruto has put all the cards on the table. The handshake must be dead and buried by April or Ruto will be buried politically.
Raila is a cunning and wise politician. Before you embrace his olive branch, think twice!If you doubt my sentiments, ask Kalonzo, Mudavadi, Wetngula or even Ruto himself who were all one time good friends but later found themselves used and dumped.
Danston Omari is a university don and Advocate of the High Court.