Raila at the centre of Kenya’s politics and must run for president in 2017

Nairobi; Kenya: Whenever opposition doyen Raila Odinga sneezes, the side opposite catches a cold. Despite being declared the loser in last year’s election, Mr Odinga remains the centre of gravity of Kenya’s politics. Mr Odinga bestrides Kenya’s political landscape like a colossus — he’s the country’s number one newsmaker. Newspapers and TV stations carry his mug at the drop of a hat. He’s not only the news. He sells them. He’s loved and loathed in equal measure. But not even his most ardent haters can afford to ignore him. Which begs the question — why is the former Lang’ata MP such an intoxicating public figure? Wherefore does his buckets of charm come from? Methinks I know. Let me unravel the man’s mysteries.

First, Mr Odinga is the most intriguing public figure in Kenya today. But he’s not an intriguer. In William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a character opines thus — “[s]ome men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em.” Rarely do people hit this trifecta. But Mr Odinga is one of the chosen few for which all three nuggets of wisdom are true. When Mr Odinga plans, his opponents think he’s plotting. When he’s sleeping, his detractors think he’s awake. He flummoxes his foes and unintentionally beguiles his friends. That’s because of his humility. Men with such commanding social and political capital can wield it with caprice. Except he doesn’t. His person and persona are public institutions.

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