- Several leaders who spoke to the Star painted a picture of government dangling the AU carrot to silence Raila from checking on the government.
- This, they vowed, will not happen.
Image: SCREENGRAB
Azimio leader Raila Odinga will not sell his soul for the Africa Union Commission (AUC) support, his allies have declared.
In what appears to be triggered by last week’s war of words between pro-government leaders and the Opposition chief, the Azimio brigade have now come out to defend the former premier from public lynching by Kenya Kwanza.
Several leaders who spoke to the Star painted a picture of government dangling the AU carrot to silence Raila from checking on the government.
This, they vowed, will not happen.
Vihiga Senator Godffrey Osotsi told the Star that gaging Raila in exchange of support for the AU top job is misguided and is bound to backfire.
According to Osotsi, even the continental assignment will not slow his fight for human rights.
“Raila cannot be silenced on matters affecting the people, he cannot be silenced,” the Vihiga lawmaker said on phone.
“They are cheapening the position of the AU chair, that you are supposed to just be there and not talk about the ills affecting the country, even if he becomes the AU chair he remains a leader in this country.”
Lat week, Ruto allies led by Majority leaders in both houses Kimani Ichung’wah (National Assembly) and Aaron Cheruiyot, warned Raila of consequences if he sustains his anti-government utterances at a time the President is superheating his campaigning for his bid.
The previous day, the ODM boss had accused Ruto’s administration of incompetence especially on how the state machinery responded to the flood disaster that had claimed over 200 lives.
“The people calling themselves CSs of Health, Education and Public Service are all useless. We have a problem because the driver does not know where the steering wheel is located,” Raila said last week when he visited flood victims in Kwa Reuben Secondary School in Embakasi East constituency.
Ichung’wah while telling off Raila said the incessant attacks will not be without consequences in the national contest.
“Be humble and respect your chief campaigner Ruto, who is campaigning for you,” the Kikuyu MP said.
While laughing off Ichung’wah’s threats, Osotsi said like in the famous Kanu/UDA merger and the coalition government, Raila will always identify with the down trodden.
“What is being said now is not new, remember when Raila joined Moi in Kanu? the same talk is there that now he has been silenced and cannot attack the government,” he said.
“If there is one thing Raila has been consistent on is championing for the rights of the people whether he is in the government or outside. He did that when in Moi and Kibaki governments.”
“Kenya Kwanza has no capacity to gag Raila and telling him what to say, as long as people’s rights are being trumped upon, he will always come forward to defend the people,” he said.
Also coming in Raila’s defence is Azimio principal Kalonzo Musyoka who insisted that the continental job will not be used to cow him into silence.
“That if he (Raila) is going to enjoy the support of the state, which is important, he should be made to remain silent. Raila cannot be silenced,” Kalonzo said over the weekend during consecration of Bishop Joseph Maweu and Reverend Maweu at Redeemed Church in Magongo, Mombasa county.
Raila’s personal lawyer Paul Mwangi was even more blunt saying that the AU is not a matter of life and death for the ODM leader.
He further said a number of figures within the opposition circles are silently praying that the bid is unsuccessful.
Mwangi said most Kenyans prefer that he concentrates on Kenya.
“I can tell you that the AU job is not a life-and-death deal for Baba (Raila). He would not sell his soul for it,” Mwangi posted on his X account.
“Secondly, I wish you knew how many Kenyans out there are so unhappy about the AU job that they would believe God answered their prayers if Baba didn’t get it.”
The development comes at a time there are speculations that a powerful western nation has shifted its support and is instead supporting a candidate sponsored by a neighbouring nation.
But according to political analyst and city lawyer Kidi Mwaga, Raila’s recent scathing attack on the government was a strategy and an observation of the Law 20 of the 48 Laws of Power – Do not commit to anyone.
“In speaking out on the issue of common concern to Wananchi he is hardening his political base which takes his political value through the roof,” Kidi told the Star on phone.
“This will make the political players involved in the AUC project to work twice as hard to deliver on their side of the bargain.
Raila is in a race with two other candidates from the Eastern block.
The two are Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs minister Mahmoud Youssouf and Somalia’s former deputy prime minister and current member of the Federal Parliament Fawzia Yusuf.
The elections to find the next occupant at the AU top job will take place in February 2025, when Chad's Moussa Faki, the current chairperson, exits after his two-term tenure.
In the polls, chairmanship is ringfenced for the Eastern Africa region, while Northern Africa will front the vice chairperson.