Oweyegha Afunaduula
I am deeply saddened by the death of the former Prime Minister of Kenya (2008-2013), Mzee Raila Odinga at the age of 80. Mzee Raila Odinga was my senior chronologically by four years
I had heard of Mzee Raila Odinga during my undergraduate times at the University of Dar-es-Salaam in the early 1970s. During the late 1950s and the 1960s I heard of his father, Mzee Jaramogi Odinga, who later served as First Vice President of Kenya, in connection with the struggle against British colonialism (in civics lessons in primary school) and my pursuit of knowledge on Kenya’s post-independence political challenges, problems and issues. Like his son during the reign of Arap Moi, he was a tireless Opposition leader under Jomo Kenyatta, but only struck one alliance between his Party, Kenya African Union (KAU) and that of Kenyatta (Kenya African National Union). Known as Double O, he died in 1994 aged 82
I came to know more about Mzee Raila Odinga at close range when the early 1980s when I was a postgraduate student of The Biology of Conservation at the University of Nairobi. He was accused in 1982 by President Arap Moi of attempting to overthrow his government and was incarcerated for 6 years.
Mzee Raila Odinga made 5 unsuccessful Presidential bids but in the process emerged the greatest shaper of post Moi Kenyan politics and foremost advocate for and defender of multiparty politics in that country
He was a good example in Kenya at the time of the risk of a young politician opposing a mushrooming dictator. Beyond incarceration, he politically developed to be a master striker of political alliances solely for his individual political survival in order to protect his burgeoning chain of businesses rather than as a contribution to the police development of Kenya and its people. Although he gave the impression that he wanted to be President of Kenya, it became obvious that he did not mind if he could strike political alliances with his political adversaries to ensure there was stability in the country for him to protect his businesses. Often he was called a traitor by especially the young Kenyans.
It is not far-fetched for one to assert that Kenya remained secure, peaceful and stable because of the ease with which Raila Odinga played his politics of political alliances. He struck a political alliance with President Uhuru Kenyatta in what was called “The Handshake”. Uhuru was able to complete two terms as President of Kenya. Last year he ensured that he reached a political deal with President Ruto that resulted in a broad-based government, thereby rendering the Ruto regime somewhat stable in the face of the threat of Gen Z. My country Uganda has gained greatly from the influence of Mzee Raila Odinga on Kenya’s politics because her international trade depends heavily on the stability of Kenya.
In my view, therefore, Mzee Raila Odinga, has not only shaped the politics of Kenya and East Africa but also the economies therein.. However, time, the ultimate judge, will tell whether Kenya will survive politically beyond the centrality of Raila Odinga in political alliances. It will also tell whether Uganda in particular and East Africa in general will survive politically and economically without Mzee Raila Odinga’s centrality in striking political alliances in Kenya.
Some skeptics may argue that political alliances belong to opportunists rather than lovers of pluralism, democracy and social, political and economic stability and development. Such skeptics would characterize Mzee Raila Odinga as an opportunist par excellence. However, such views are expected about politicians, since most of them work for themselves and their families focusing on social, iconic and political gains at the expense of others
One thing is true. We shall greatly miss Mzee Raila Odinga on the political stage in Kenya, East Africa, Great Lakes Region and Africa.
May HIS Soul Rest in Peace.
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