Raila’s move to cancel parallel Jamhuri Day cerebration was well-advised

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• Going by past experiences, this is what would have happened if Raila insisted on holding this rally. His supporters would have ignored the authorities and turn up in large numbers at Jacaranda grounds. This could have triggered a bloody confrontation between them and the security forces that, perhaps, could have left some dead and other nursing serious injuries.
• The supporters had already started daring the police. The other day you did not throw teargas canisters to us. We are missing them and you should also bear this in mind. Here in Jacaranda, we have so many stones.
• So, this was my wish and prayer. The peace loving Kenyans led by church leaders and our friends from outside the country would reach out Raila and persuade him to rescind his decision. I’m happy this came to pass.

When I heard that the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has organized a rally at Jacaranda grounds in Nairobi to coincide with Jamhuri Day cerebrations, this was my position. The decision was ill-advised and designed to further provoke President William Ruto and test the level of his coolness and temperamental.

This time, I would not have expected the government to allow them to hold this meeting. This is because this was a national day dedicated to remember the heroes and heroines who fought for our independence and the great sacrifice they made. This day is anchored in our constitution and the government was required to spearhead all the preparations.

Going by past experiences, this is what would have happened if Raila insisted on holding this rally. His supporters would have ignored the authorities and turn up in large numbers at Jacaranda grounds. This could have triggered a bloody confrontation between them and the security forces that, perhaps, could have left some dead and other nursing serious injuries.

The supporters had already started daring the police. The other day you did not throw teargas canisters to us. We are missing them and you should also bear this in mind. Here in Jacaranda, we have so many stones.

So, this was my wish and prayer. The peace loving Kenyans led by church leaders and our friends from outside the country would reach out Raila and persuade him to rescind his decision. I’m happy this came to pass.

Looking at Raila’s history, he had been using the strategy of threat, blackmail, and intimidation to survive politically. In the aftermath of 2007 general election, he pushed President Mwai Kibaki to the wall and forced him to share the government with him on 50-50 basis.  This paved the way for him to become Prime Minister.

In 2017, he arm twisted President Uhuru Kenyatta and he finally agreed to have a handshake with him.

Will President Ruto succumb to his machinations? I highly doubt. The president has completely ruled out a conversation around the formation of a ‘Nusu Mkate’ government.

Our vision is to build a nation that is anchored on tenets of democracy, constitutionalism and rule of law. The first step is to ensure we have a strong, vibrant and robust opposition.

In a democracy, the opposition plays a big role of checking the government in power.

My government is ready to be audited because we are not angles. Human can err.

The latest reports have indicated that the ruling Kenya Kwana coalition party has initiated and drafted a bill seeking to create a powerful Office of the Leader of the Opposition. This demonstrates Ruto is walking the talk. The exchequer will allocate funds to run this office.

Besides addressing parliament periodically, the holder shall speak to Kenyans directly on matters touching on his oversight role. The holder is also entitled to recruit staff to help him meet the public expectations. Besides, the holder will have the power to appoint a section of members who shall sit on boards of constitutional and independent commissions. He or she is also at liberty to fundraise from donor.

If Raila is contented with this, I would not have expected him to call for mass action. So, what is up his sleeves? If he is looking for ‘nusu mkate’, he does not believe in tenets of democracy and rule of law. He is out to use his supporters and abandon them once he has achieved what he wanted.

To rally his supporters, he always played a sympathy card. I had won the elections but I was rigged out.

The question comes. In exception of 2017 polls, how come his petitions were always dismissed by the Supreme Court?

I hope many would recall that Raila was a key player during the 2010 referendum campaigns that culminated to the adoption of current constitution.

As he rallied Kenyans, he used to describe the draft constitution as the most progressive and likening it to the American and South Africa constitutions.

This is the constitution that created the Supreme Court. So, does he have a legitimacy to attack this court? Well, don’t get me wrong. I’m insinuating that this court is being run angels.

However, the law took its full course during the hearing of his petitions in 2013 and 2022. So, it is hard to convince many Kenyans that he had been rigged out.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political commentator based in Nairobi