President of handshakes: Raila wins every time he loses

Former PM Raila Odinga at a burial in Maanzoni, Machakos County. [Emmanuel Wanson, Standard]

How sweet life must be for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a man who is constantly the prize? Tinga, as he is more famously called, never has to seek out anything or anyone. He is the one everyone looks for.

As he defended his latest handshake this past week, he said that a panicky President William Ruto had approached him to help tame the youth-led revolt against tax hikes last year. According to Tinga, the President came calling months later to broaden their 'broad-based' government, known in other circles as the 'bread-based' government.

The 'bread' borrows from the 'mkate nusu' days when Tinga shared half the government with the late former President Mwai Kibaki. It had to be a loaf, given that Kenya's politics is all about eating.