Are these Raila Odinga's last days in our evolving politics?

Azimio leader Raila Odinga, making his remarks on March 2, 2023, at Jaramogi Odinga foundation in Upper Hill Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo Standard]

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga is perhaps shedding last vestiges of what made him the enigma in Kenyan politics.

He has made great strides in his political career but failed to clinch the highest seat with five attempts.

Though he remains stoic, his energies have been drained by vagaries of nature including age. He can hold on but not for too long. He has to abide by laws of nature and at some point give way. His political career was just about to end on a high.

The amount of hope that bubbled within his support base just before the 2022 poll was beyond measure.

It seemed this time round, he had in his hand the one thing that had eluded him; the System. He did not. He quickly learnt that the system is a combination of local and international forces - seen and unseen.
However, the more painful matter is not losing what would easily be assumed to have been his final attempt. No. It is the unsettling truth that those he considered his loyal soldiers were not loyal.

They were only hangers-on, tagging at his coat for the sake of their political careers. Just imagine Raila being abandoned by his local MP in Bondo Gideon Ochanda or Elisha Odhiambo of Gem. It is an obvious fact that a good number of MPs in Nyanza were only elected because they were in Orange colours.

Raila's political influence has always been so immense that even those who challenged him before including the indefatigable James Orengo and his fellow socialist Anyang' Nyong'o had to toe the line at some point. It is ironic that they turned stauncher and more loyal than the rest.

It hurts to be Raila. He may limp back to Bondo alone as his erstwhile allies dine and wine with the forces that he politicked against. His predicaments are exposing our underbelly as a country with an undisciplined political culture. That the beautifully written party manifestos and ideologies are just decorations.

No one is ready to stand up for them. It worries that parties are just like the Linear Coach buses that once reigned in the Kisii-Nairobi route or the Eldoret Express buses that dotted the Nairobi-Eldoret route. Their collapse never stopped Kenyans from travelling, they just gave way to new and better-looking buses.

However, politics of principle must remain our desire. Men who will take a stand even if the heavens fall. We owe our existence to our forefathers who took a stand against oppression, alienation and segregation.

We must strive for politicians who will live up to those high ideals. Raila cannot be right just before elections and be wrong immediately after losing.

He cannot be right when young and energetic and wrong when he is retiring.

The writer is anchor at Radio Maisha