Choosing the chair of the presidential campaign secretariat depends on what is on ODM leader Raila Odinga’s mind.
Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi being the image of the campaign means possible endorsement by retired President Mwai Kibaki.
Ndiritu is Kibaki’s nephew, by association only – whether true or not does not matter. But those people who listened to Kibaki seeing it is Ndiritu now leading Raila’s campaign might read that as an endorsement by Kibaki himself.
It may not be the case, but that is the implication. It is a strategic move in terms of imaging.
The ideal person to lead a presidential campaign should be a person the candidate is comfortable with and talks and shares with every day.
The campaign belongs to the candidate and he is the one to choose who would be compatible with him, who he can be talking to regularly to assess the way things are going.
Somebody energetic and who is likely to attract support and convince voters.
The campaign manager should be somebody who sells the candidate without being hindered by those middlemen or women who show up and claim to control the candidate.
A lot of things have gone into the decision on both sides, for Raila to pick the person, and for the person to accept.
Ndiritu being the governor of Laikipia — and I am sure he would want to be re-elected — so if he thinks being associated with Raila will lock him to those votes, so be it.
Again, Raila — far from talk that he must have a running mate from Mt Kenya — has a lot of options, it is up to him.
It is his candidacy; it is for him to decide who will be compatible with him, who they can work with and who would bring value.
He has a lot of options. It should not have to be a person from Mt Kenya although it may look good to be someone from Mt Kenya if that person adds value.
Raila has to weigh a lot of things.
The political analyst spoke to the Star
(Edited by V. Graham)
