By KEN-ARTHUR WEKESA
Political baggage on the backs of presidential hopefuls may change their dreams into nightmares.
The quest by Raila Odinga, Uhuru Kenyatta, Musalia Mudavadi, George Saitoti, William Ruto, Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua may face turbulence over their previous political engagements.
As Prime Minister, Raila stands blamed for selectively fighting corruption, and this notion could weigh heavily on him.
"He will have a difficult time in explaining to the electorate why he defended his allies like Charity Ngilu and Mudavadi when they were mentioned in the water scandal and the cemetery scam," says Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale.
Although the PM sought to clear his name in the Kazi kwa Vijana scandal, this is another baggage Raila has to grapple with.
Political disloyalty
Nominated MP Musikari Kombo observes Railaâs trait of disloyalty to political partners could also be his undoing.
"When Kijana Wamalwa democratically took over Ford- Kenya after the death of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila fought him viciously and withdrew his support," he says.
Joseph Magut, a political scientist, says Railaphobia, especially among the Kikuyu, will definitely isolate him from the vote-rich Central regions, who feel a Raila regime will pursue vengeance against them.
On Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Magut says the fact that the Gatundu South MP was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, means he may not be alive to the real issues facing wananchi and thus, may not even be entrusted to articulate or address them.
"His presidency will undeniably side with the elite and rubber stamp the status quo," he says.
