Who is Uhuru in ODMK and will his contribution help?

The Uhuru factor has become a very pivotal issue in ODMK unity. In fact he is the breaking point or the cracking fault that is spreading all over ODMK and threatening to break ODMK apart. Before the Uhuru issue, there was very little commotion, but after his dilly dallying tactics, others like Kalonzo amassed the necessary courage to inflict more damage to the ODMK unity, which of course was a bottled boiling water. However, a proper analysis of Uhuru should be drawn.

Who is uhuru? How important is he to Kanu as a party? What can he do to help or hurt ODMK, Raila, Kalonzo or Ruto? How important is his candidature to Kibaki and Kikuyus by extension ?

From the historical perspective sense of it, Uhuru originally was an unknown son of the former president Kenyatta. Infact no one knew more about him during Kenyatta's reign except family friends like Moi. He was never being groomed to take over power, at least publicly until Moi wanted to take advantage of the Kikuyu's at least one more time. The right moment came during Kanu's nomination of a presidential candidate. Moi bypassed key Kanu diehards including, Saitoti, Awori, Mudavadi, Ruto, the total man, Ntimama and even Kamotho to appoint an unknown Uhuru. The question to be asked is why? Why did Moi bypass everyone and land on Uhuru, and is this a foundation Uhuru should stand on, and should Kenyans not look back into this before giving Uhuru any credit at all? Should Kenyans sit back and watch Uhuru wreck ODMK with just a sledge hummer? I think one needs a bomb to break an institute of the magnitude of ODMK.

Personally, I really consider the inclusion of Uhuru in this equation a pathetic state of affair. Infact if I was Uhuru, I would lie low like en envelope to allow a bit of lifespan for forgetfulness’ to set it. Why Uhuru is such a big factor in ODM nomination baffles me. Uhuru is not even the bonafide chairman of Kanu. Kanu belongs to the Kalenjins and not the Kikuyus, at least the majority of votes that support Kanu are from Kalenjins and non at all from the Kikuyus. Even if ODM nominated Uhuru and he is left to contend against Kibaki, the Kikuyus will not vote for Uhuru because they know who will be running the party and the government. Uhuru is in the place where he is because of support from Moi and as soon as the old man withdraws his support, which as everyone knows may come anytime, Uhuru will be a shepherd without the flock.

Now talking about Kanu, there are some serious owners of this party that ODMK should talk to if a coalition is to be formed. Otherwise the presence of Uhuru in ODMK does not by extension indicate the presence of KANU and by extension the KANU vote. My take on Uhuru's presence in ODMK was that he had opted to be a part of the euphoria movement that was going to bring change in our country and that movement is ODMK.

His being part of this movement should have been individual based and not his party based but if it is his party based then ODMK does not really need Uhuru if it already has Ruto, Kosey, Dalmas Otieno, Ntimama and finally if can woo Moi and the total man. When you are talking about Kanu then these are the people one should talk to not Uhuru. To me Uhuru is a stooge. A flying viehicle without a powering system. There is therefore no need to use the Uhuru factor to derail change that all Kenyans need. It is completely unnecessary to derail the nomination of ODMK. Infact the question I think the ODMK luminaries should ask openly and publicly in bold letters is "WHO IS UHURU?" I want to see it in bold letters in the papers ie "WHO IS UHURU, ODMK ASKED?". This will put Uhuru where he belongs and allow ODMK to move on.

Secondly Uhuru is becoming a factor because the ODMK candidate Musyoka has some kind of belief that if he joins hands with Uhuru, then he can draw some voters and win the presidency. Infact Musyoka seems to be bent on Uhuru for his success. I believe Musyoka has made his decision. He knows he is loosing ODMK nomination and he getting ready to join Kibaki. Watch this. If Musyoka is not elected the presidential candidate for ODMK, he will be matching straight to join Kibaki. Musyoka has no presidential ambitions at all, unless he is sure he is going to win. ODMK was providing him a winning ticket and that is why. Musyoka belongs to the group that believes that a Luo should not lead Kenya and if Raila is the one that has the chance, then he is going to spoil it even if it means aligning with a nobody. In this respect he has joined Uhuru but this is very temporary. His journey will end in NARCK.

The question Kenyans must ask is whether change is necessary or not. If so, Uhuru or Musyoka is not the direction they should look to. Kenyans in the opposition should know exactly who is the best representative of opposition. As we all know we do not need many political parties if they are one in the same. We either like what Kibaki is doing or we choose the direct opposite of him. I do not see this in Uhuru. Uhuru has nothing to offer to ODMK and by extension is not yet an opposition figure. Uhuru is still finding his roots. Leave him alone.

Dr. Barack Abonyo.