Hits and misses in Raila Odinga's political gambles

Raila Odinga being shielded by his security men at Ford Kenya elections which were marred by violence on 14/4/1996 [File, Standard]

History will judge the prudence of the gamble Raila Odinga took in his last-minute decision to boycott last week's repeat presidential election, giving Uhuru Kenyatta an easy ride to a possible second term in office.

Opinion has been divided over Raila’s decision, which many viewed as having been calculated to scuttle the repeat poll once it became apparent that his “irreducible minimum” demands on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) were not going to be met.