Onyango says: "After the promulgation of the Constitution, the PM had the presence of mind to host not just the Second Liberation team, but a number of earlier players who have always questioned the direction the country was taking right from independence. The PM is therefore not simply reassembling the liberation team. He is putting together a reform-minded team that incorporates past and new fighters."
Citing clampdown on leaders who attempted to meet at the Limuru Conference earlier this month to counter the activities of Gema and Kamatusa political outfits, Kihoro decries the commitment to reforms by some Cabinet ministers and MPs who wore the tag of reformist only to betray these ideals.
"Eight former political detainees met the Prime Minister and noted that the reform process risks being hijacked by the same people we fought against. For the past eight months, the social left has been lacking the reform agenda. The groups and individuals the PM has tried to work with were amorphous and were only interested in serving time," says Kihoro, a lawyer and a fierce critic of founding President Jomo Kenyatta and former President Moi regimes.
Former detainees
Kihoro says Raila has been consulting former political detainee â former Runjenjes MP Njeru Kathangu, former Subukia MP Koigi Wamwere, former Wundanyi MP Mwandawiro Mghanga, former detainee Otieno MakâOnyango, Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara, and Lands Minister James Orengo, among others.
Retired Archbishop David Gitari has also been involved in working out a formula of countering the G7 Alliance, whose presidential election agenda is anchored on halting PMâs push for the top seat and maintaining power in the hands of the big tribes.
While denying having taken part in presidential election strategy meetings, Dr Gitari says he agrees the reform agenda is at risk, and possible return to the dark days if Kibaki successor lacks reform credentials. The Kibaki succession has generally been informed by ethnic alliances, which has largely been hostile to Railaâs political ambition.
Weekend rallies
The emerging scenario began to take shape after last weekend rallies in Meru, where Imanyara, former Ntonyi MP Maoka Maore, Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi, and Assistant Minister Kilemi Mwiria hosted the Prime Minister.
Speaking to The Standard On Sunday from the US, where he is with Raila, Director of Communication at Raila for President Campaign Secretariat Barrack Muluka confirmed the strategy meetings are on going, and the overriding theme is reforms.
"It is an agenda that has been on the cards for decades. Sometimes you make a step forward, and then back. The PM has been forced to confront the fact that some of the people he worked with were non-believers in institutional reforms. But there is nothing concrete at the moment," Muluka said.
He admitted reforms would drive the PMâs agenda, as he prepares to face off with Uhuru Kenyatta, Kalonzo Musyoka, William Ruto, Martha Karua, and Musalia Mudavadi, among other presidential aspirants.
