ODM candidature is decided : Raila given the short end of the stick again

The hunting is over, the animal is already killed and the distribution of the parts is being decided. As usual the history of Kenya is being repeated. Just like the time of independence, the home guards who discouraged independence were the very same ones who got the fat part of the kill. The trick has worked again and again. Work with the person in power and when he is about to loose, shift sides to his opponents and appear as a hero and then claim the best part of the deal because you are more favorable. I say more favorable in quotes.

The issue of favorability or compromise can be discussed. It is merely a semantic of saying you are from a wrong tribe or clan. No need to hide or mince the words. It is very simple. It is just a tactic that the vultures or the opportunists use to take advantage of the sweat of those who work hard for the kill. This is a common history in African culture. The hunters after toiling all day for the kill must bring the meet home to the lazy king to distribute it.

In Kenya, Odinga and co fought for independence and delivered it on a silver platter to Kenyatta, who being afraid of his colleagues gave the best parts of the cow that Odinga had slaughtered to home guards, who were initially telling the colonialists on him and gave Odinga a bone and later took everything off his plate. How sad.

There we were again. Kibaki, after discouraging opposition, waited for the right time, quit Kanu, formed DP and waited for Raila patiently to bring the loot home and instead of even giving him the leg he nyang'anyad everything. How selfish can people be?

Now here we are again. While Raila was fighting for second liberation, Mudavadi, Kalonzo and Ruto were enjoying the milk of Kanu. Indeed they were singing Kanu ni baba na mama and Moi ni baba wa Taifa. Indeed, Uhuru and Mudavadi stuck with Moi upto last minute. Now Raila has hunted the animal and brought the kill home again. All over suddenly the talk of a compromise candidate surfaces and Uhuru is seen side by side to Musyoka and Ruto is trying to convince Raila to give all the hunt to Musyoka. What a sad story.

If the son of Odinga was not born a luo, the issue could have not arisen because he deserves the loot. He worked hard for it. Indeed he has worked harder than each of these vultures. No one in his right mind can clearly state that Odinga is not the right candidate. The only major factor is that the rest of the tribes would not like to support a luo for president. The question is why? Arent the luos human beings like all Kenyans? Didn’t the luos fight for independence like all kenyans? Haven’t the luos contributed to Kenyan development like all Kenyans? Why is everyone discriminating on the luos and by extension Raila Odinga?

These are questions the luos do not have answers for but other tribes do. However, the luos must have a solution to this forty year old problem. Do not tell me that the luos are blind for this long. It is time to see the light. And I see Agwambo this time has seen the light and refused this travesty of rightful ownership to what one has worked for.

Raila said let the delegates decide. But I add one more thing, let the delegates decide but if there is biasness, then Raila should join the winning team. Not the winning team in ODM. ODM must be made to suffer for their arrogance and lack of respect for hard work. Without Raila there is no ODM. Raila from now on should decide to work with the government that is. I mean he should vie for the presidency in whatever ticket and use the MPS voted in to support the government policies in exchange for development. Yes if Raila is serious about the condition of his people then this is the best thing to do. Forty years is too long to continue laboring for other people. If Raila cannot get it this time. No one should get it. And besides he should know that it is not the presidency that brings development, it is working with the government of the day that does it. We saw that during the brief time Odinga worked with Moi, when Raila worked with Moi and when Raila worked with Kibaki. In politics there are no permanent enemies.

It is time for Agwambo to count his losses and develop a new strategy. Because this strategy may lead him to the promised land one day. If it was meant to be, it will be.

Dr. Barack Abonyo