The Mt Kenya Times 
Azimio La Umoja-OKA leader Raila Odinga and former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- This is as he has done in the past particularly during the reign of President Mwai Kibaki and his successor Uhuru Kenyatta.
- But this time the going was tough for him. This is because it had dawned on him that President Ruto was not a pushover. He is a hard nut to crack. With this, Raila knew that he had been left with only one bullet hinged on the mobilization of the majority of Kenyans and inciting them to participate in his campaign of defiance.
- In his earlier demonstrations, the somehow good turnouts would only be witnessed in his political bastions of Luo Nyanza and some parts of Nairobi.
Azimio La Umoja-OKA leader Raila Odinga made good his threat to hold the public protest at Kamukunji grounds.
The protests coincided with Saba Saba day (July 7, 1990), a day marked to remember the brutality that security forces meted on the crusaders of multiparty democracy and thier supporters on that day. The heavily armed police used all the power at thier disposal to block them from accessing the Kamukunji grounds. The police had already banned the scheduled rally. Dozens of the protestors were shot dead.
I have lately been listening to a cross section of Kenyans. Raila’s critics averred that he no longer stood for the ideals of democracy, social justice and human rights that he championed alongside Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia at the time.
Today, he was out to settle political scores with President William Ruto.
Raila’s ultimate goal was to force Dr Ruto to share government with him on 50-50 basis. Plan B is to force him to shake his hand.
This is as he has done in the past particularly during the reign of President Mwai Kibaki and his successor Uhuru Kenyatta.
But this time the going was tough for him. This is because it had dawned on him that President Ruto was not a pushover. He is a hard nut to crack. With this, Raila knew that he had been left with only one bullet hinged on the mobilization of the majority of Kenyans and inciting them to participate in his campaign of defiance.
In his earlier demonstrations, the somehow good turnouts would only be witnessed in his political bastions of Luo Nyanza and some parts of Nairobi.
At the time, his critics would aver. Kenya has 45 tribes. How come it is only his community that is disatsified with the leadership of President Ruto and his administration?
So, he needed to shed off this tag. This is by reaching out to other communities.
He hoped the Saba Saba day would be a turning point. This is because many Kenyans were opposed to the new taxations contained in the newly enacted Finance Act, 2023.
Raila and his running mates Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka had announced that the Saba Saba protests will take place in all parts of the country.
This time, the turnouts were somehow impressive.
In my Estate of Githurai, I got an opportunity to listen to the views of some of the residents. For some, Raila was on the right track. He was fighting for a worth course.
But others would have a different opinion, stating. Yes, it is true the cost of living is high but Raila cannot run away from this mess.
He was a core principal of the ‘handshake’ government and this is when things started going South.
He was contented with the way President Uhuru Kenyatta was running the government. This is because he had allowed him to occupy his seat at the high table where national cake was being shared.
Therefore, he fully supported the policies that ruined our economy. This include allocations of a huge chunk of taxpayers money running into billions of shillings to fund the BBI process and run political activities of the ‘handshake’ government.
By the time Uhuru was leaving office, the retail price of a 2kg packet of maize flour (Unga) stood at Sh230. Since Ruto assumed office, the prices have come down ranging between Sh170 and Sh180.
The Githurai residents further observed. We know why Raila was fighting Ruto. It is simply because Ruto defeated him at the ballot.
Raila never thought he can lose this election. This is because the outgoing President and the whole of ‘deep state’ was supporting his candidature.
He, however, forget one thing. Dr Ruto enjoyed God’s favor and had the people of Kenya on his side. That is why he trounced with ease.
Reports indicated that Raila reached out to President Uhuru when he realized that he was losing. He wanted him to issue orders that would have seen the final results manipulated and altered in his (Odinga) favor.
A call that Embakasi MP Bobu Owino made to Interior PS Karanja Kibicho was tellingly. He wanted him to order the arrest of IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati before he announced the final results.
Uhuru declined to approve these evil designs aimed at plunging Kenya into anarchy. He never wanted to ruin his legacy at the tail-end of his administration.
Back to Saba Saba day, the turnout in Kisumu was high as it used to be. This is while noting this is the bedroom of Baba.
The previous protests in this region always turned chaotic as the police engage the battle-hardened youths in running battles. This will end on a sad note where some protestors would lose thier lives and others left nursing serious gunshots wounds.
This time no such incidents were reported.
In Migori, the turnout was somehow good but it fizzled out some hours later. The police officers were seen clearing the boulders and stones they had used to block the main roads.
The latest media reports have indicated that President Ruto is set to make an intensive tour of this region starting with Homa Bay this weekend and in Siaya a week later. Is an indication he was good inroads? For years, this region was perceived to be Baba’s bedroom.
In Nairobi where Raila addressed a Kamukunji Saba Saba rally there was a good turnout.
After a brief speech, Raila asked the protestors to join him in marching to the Central Business District (CBD). The police had a difficult time trying to repulse them.
In Mombasa, they were some actions but these were low-keyed.
Similar action was witnessed in Nyahururu. A sizeable number of youths demonstrated along the streets of this town. Nyahururu is the bedrock of the former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga and former Laikipia governor Nderitu Muriethi.
In Kisii, the youths heeded Raila’s call and turned up in big numbers. The Police engaged them in fierce running battles. Some of them had entered town.
Media reports indicated a number of them were injured and admitted at the local hospitals. Hon Simba Arati, the governor of Kisii, is a staunch supporter and defender of Raila. He won the seat on an ODM ticket.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi
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