Former Molo MP Njenga Mungai gives the Kiswahili expression ‘ametuwacha kwa mataa’ a practical interpretation. Mungai’s interpretation of the ‘betrayal’ claim has a context.
Mungai, who was Molo MP for 20 years, wonders who abandoned who when street lights turned ‘red’. Those complaining of betrayal rejected the saviour of beleaguered presidents when he presented himself for Executive duty during the 2022 general election.
They accused the rescuer of sabotaging their businesses during the ‘Sufuria Revolt’ against the Financial Bill, 2023. The Bill, like its shelved 2024 edition, risked raising the cost of living.
Rising public debt, corruption, unnecessary taxes, integrity deficit, official extravagance and poor governance were part of the mix when the opposition organised protest rallies. These are the same issues youthful rebels are raising. But the same ‘traders’ allege betrayal when dialogue is proposed to contain youth-led public demonstrations.
Mungai, the veteran politician from the Kikuyu Diaspora in the Rift Valley, was responding to the claim by freshly-minted critics of the Kenya Kwanza government, that Raila Odinga has ‘betrayed’ the ‘Occupy’ and ‘Reject’ change activists.
Some say the ODM leader has abandoned them at the red light. But for Mungai, the enigmatic saviour of drowning presidents has once more saved the ‘situation’. He has given a breather for President William Ruto to reorganise government, while addressing public governance concerns.
Cynics rarely consider the backstory of political decisions, like Raila Odinga’s secondment of five former ODM officials to what President Ruto calls ‘broad-based’ government.
Co-option of opposition politicians into government, Mungai says, has averted a situation. The averted situation could range from the possibility of ethnic violence to extended civil disorder and national anarchy.
There was also a possibility of a military takeover if civilians failed to resolve contentious issues. There would be no guarantee the military would agree to a uniform response.
Kenya was equally on the edge after the disputed 2007 presidential election. The ‘System’ imposed President Mwai Kibaki on an electorate that hugely endorsed Raila, then running as the ODM presidential candidate.
Kalonzo Musyoka, who was third as ODM-Kenya presidential candidate, entered a coalition with Kibaki’s minority Party of National Unity. The Kibaki-Kalonzo alliance left Raila at the red light, while soaring up PNU-ODM-Kenya ranks in Parliament.
About 1,300 people were killed in the ensuing post-election violence. About 600,000 people were dispossessed. Thousands were injured during the political situation that generated crimes against humanity.
Raila acceded to a ‘grand coalition’ government, as part of the 2007 post-election peace package. He surrendered his perceived presidential victory to rescue Kenya from the precipice. Former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan presided over the peace talks.
Raila was also part of a ‘rainbow’ coalition that helped Kibaki to win the presidency in 2002. It was Kibaki’s third attempt. Kibaki and his enablers twice deserted Raila at the red light.
The Gen Z invasion of Parliament, desecration of the Supreme Court and torching of a section of County Hall on June 25 were foreboding. ‘Occupy State House’ call was further evidence of the danger beyond the ‘red light’.
The situation needed moderation and political sagacity to stem the tide of violence. The violence is largely blamed on faceless infiltrators, who hijacked legitimate Gen Z demonstrations.
It takes extreme cynicism to misunderstand Raila's endgame in the wake of Gen Z civic consciousness. The career patriot has once again inserted himself between the offending Executive, the complicit Legislature and the acquiescent Judiciary on the business-as-usual side, and the restless youth on the change overdrive, to stabilise the situation.
The ODM leader has interceded, once again, to salvage the country from the precipice. It takes political magnanimity to be the perennial saviour of beleaguered presidents.
OKECH KENDO, A University journalism lecturer and climate change local actions advocate.