EXPERT COMMENT

Raila using war with Ruto to finish Uhuru

In Summary

•ODM leader Raila Odinga versus President Uhuru Kenyatta and the handshake versus 2022 are one and the same thing.

•Raila has always looked for a way to revenge on Uhuru. To him, the Kenyatta family betrayed his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Uhuru betrayed Raila.

Raila Odinga shares a piece of cake with President Uhuru Kenyatta in Mombasa on January during Raila's birthday.
Raila Odinga shares a piece of cake with President Uhuru Kenyatta in Mombasa on January during Raila's birthday.
Image: FILE

ODM leader Raila Odinga versus President Uhuru Kenyatta and the handshake versus 2022 are one and the same thing.

Raila has always looked for a way to revenge on Uhuru. To him, the Kenyatta family betrayed his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Uhuru betrayed Raila.

Deputy President William Ruto supported Uhuru to continue that betrayal. Raila tried to take Uhuru to the International Criminal Court but failed.

This is the right time to revenge on the Kenyatta family by alienating Uhuru from Rift Valley and Central Kenya blocks.

Right now the President stands isolated. Many of his business and political friends have abandoned him.

If today Raila moves out of the handshake, who would Uhuru Kenyatta turn to? Ruto and his people are very clear the marriage is now being dissolved.

The whole thing about the handshake was revenge. Uhuru will not support Raila or Ruto come 2022. He will support a person from Mt Kenya region.

In my view, Ruto now has decided to take the President head-on. And it is paying dividends.

I don’t think the handshake will survive in the next month or two. Uhuru will retrace his footsteps and make a handshake with Ruto.

Ruto is likely to move an impeachment motion, which - even if it does not succeed - will totally alter the political landscape of this nation.

Today, Ruto is criticising Raila and Raila has a handshake with the President. I think Ruto has decided to take the fight right to the doorstep of the President. Uhuru has no basis to challenge Ruto.

Of great importance is that only ODM Luo Members of Parliament and a few Coast MPs support and defend the President. What happened with the huge Jubilee brigade that would traverse the whole nation?

I think we are likely to see the end of handshake and President Kenyatta in a lame duck position very early before 2022.

The defining moment is April. Ruto has put all the cards on the table. The handshake must be dead and buried by April or Ruto will be buried politically.

Danston Omari is a university don and Advocate of the High Court

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