Nyali MP Mohammed Ali
with late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at a rally /BRIAN OTIENO
Ali, who has worked
with Raila politically and socially, on Wednesday evening said Raila has left a
vacuum that Kenya will struggle to fill.
“He’s been fighting
for Kenyans. I knew him long time ago when I was in the media because I was the
voice of the voiceless while he was the voice of the country. So we were having
a common goal,” Ali told the Star on phone.
Ali revealed that
when he decided to join politics, he first spoke with Raila at length, for
about five hours, at Raila’s Capital Hill office.
“He gave me his
journey, how he entered politics, how he was young and how there was an old
team that was there and they were thinking if this team goes, sisi tutafanya
nini? So, they started learning through the old team,” Ali said.
He said Raila told
him he learned under Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Martin Shikuku, Masinde Muliro and others while he, James Orengo and Gitobu Imanyara were the young upcoming
team.
“So, they were
supporting the old team and were pushing them. There was a smooth succession because
there was a succession plan.
“The young people
were learning from the old. They were allowed to go with the old people to
learn, so that even when the old exited, it was not a problem to take over,” Ali
said.
He noted that the
generation that took over from Jaramogi and Matiba never groomed young
people.
“That is why you
see when Raila passed away, there is a big vacuum. You heard how everybody said
they talked to him before he died. That is because they never groomed people to
take over,” said the Nyali MP, who was once in ODM but left and is now technically in
UDA.
Politician Fred
Gumo said most of those who cried while Raila was being mourned were shedding
crocodile tears.
Gumo said most of
them are scared of their political future after the coat that they used to hang
on was no more.
This sentiment was
echoed by Ali, who said most of the politicians crying the loudest were misusing
Raila for their own selfish political gain.
“Some of them just
wanted election or re-election. They had no agenda for the people and did not
do anything on the ground, just surviving by pushing Raila to visit their areas.
“And when Baba
endorsed them, simply because people loved Baba, they would never disappoint
his choice and most of them were elected that way,” Ali said.
He noted there is a
group of young politicians who fought their own battles, getting elected for who
they are and not necessarily because they were endorsed by Baba, or the party they were in, with the endorsement being just a plus.
He said with Baba’s
exit, many wars will come and those who were elected on merit will stand tall.
“There are those
great voices like the Sifuna voice, the Babu voice and the Ali voice that people
are underestimating simply because they have no money. These will lead the country,”
he said.
Ali said even
though Raila was relatively wealthy, unlike the other wealthy politicians, his
support base was loyal and organic, with no financial influence needed to make
them follow his word.
“He never bought
anyone. People just loved and died for him. These other politicians today buy
people. They mobilise and pay people to attend their meetings and cheer them,”
Ali said.
He said although he
is not in ODM now, he was once an ODM member and he believed the party will
split with the young leaders taking over the mantle and disregard the old guard
who want to maintain the status quo.
“There is no chain
of command. When Mzee exited he did not say who is the next general to lead the
people to Canaan. Now, there will be war. Everybody will want to lead and there
will be a lot of casualties,” Ali said.
He said fighting the
system today needs a new strategy and he is glad the Gen Z has risen up to
demand good governance.
He however said it was disappointing that the Gen Z was lagging behind in voter registration.
Gen Z should be guided to fight for the country but they must first register as
voters.
“The Gen Zs are the
game changer for the 2027 elections. The most painful part is, up to now the
turnout in voter registration is very low among the Gen Zs.
“They must go out
and register. We feel we are tired and we need to
have our own way, our own course. All eyes are on people like us and the likes
of Babu and Sifuna,” Ali said.
Nairobi Senator and
ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino lead a group
of young politicians who are forming an alternative voice, forming a political movement
that is fronting the interests of Kenyans.
Ali however said
the young crop of leaders must hold on to something before being able to move
forward on their own.
He said the likes
of Babu and Sifuna have to learn more from the crop of leaders like PLP leader
Marth Karua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and others before they can
confidently steer their own path.
“They can be MP for
10 years then move to being governor first before being able to go national and
have a national outlook,” Ali said.
He said it is not
likely that one can jump from being an MP to president.
“The last line of
defense is the likes of Karua and Kalonzo. We must make one more step with them
and then the next step will be ours,” AIi said.
Instant Analysis
Nyali MP Mohammed
Ali joined politics on an ODM ticket when vying for the MP's seat. He however
felt there was a plot to rig him out of the party’s nomination in 2017 and
opted out, vying and clinching the seat as an independent candidate. In 2022,
he defended his seat on a UDA ticket. He is now at loggerheads with the ruling
party and has been seen warming up to Kalonzo and former Deputy President Rigathi
Gachagua.
