In most democracies, a spouse could propel a presidential candidate to the top or undermine them.
That is how key a spouse is to the campaign of a presidential candidate.
Kenya, being one of Africa's stronger democracies, is no exception.
Indeed, the August election has been termed the race to replace Margaret Kenyatta as the First Lady.
The spouses of ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto, Ida Odinga and Rachael Ruto, are the top contenders, and their roles and significance in the presidential contest cannot be ignored.
The two have taken on increasingly important and prominent roles in campaigning.
Ida is believed to be so powerful that her influence in ODM cannot be wished away. Her views on ODM affairs have been seen to carry a lot of weight. It has also been said that the easiest way to get to Raila is through Ida.
Rachael has been pushing her husband’s agenda through Joyful Women Organisation, an NGO she founded to champion the welfare of women through various poverty alleviating initiatives.
Political analyst Daniel Orogo points out that spouses of presidential candidates are seen as key in constructing the identity of their husbands as leaders.
“In the current election, their role is much more on values. Conservative voters are most likely to make decisions based on family values, which the spouses represent,” he said.
They are seen as more able to convince the undecided voters, majority of whom are women, to go to the ballot and vote for their husbands
The spouses have the ability to reveal their husband’s personal attributes and experiences, he said.
In the forthcoming election, the spouses are likely to play the gender card, Orogo suggested. “They will speak about women's issues that have not been addressed, let's say by the National Assembly and the courts,” he explained.
Orogo said majority of the undecided voters are women, which makes spouses of presidential candidates significant in the campaigns.
“They are seen as more able to convince the undecided voters, majority of whom are women, to go to the ballot and vote for their husbands,” he said.
Orogo said spouses are one of the most important and frequently deployed surrogates.
“Her marital relationship affords her close proximity to the man who will potentially be the most powerful individual in the country,” he added.
The public views spouses as an extension of the candidate and as evidence of his character and image.
The candidate's wife serves as an effective spousal surrogate by speaking to her husband’s authenticity as a human being and as a candidate, Orogo said.
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
But political commentator Dismas Mokua sees having spouses of presidential candidates in the campaign as a double-edged sword.
“Spouses who are aligned with the candidates’ message and possess people skills can in fact be an asset. Michelle Obama assisted Barack Obama in his campaigns. In fact, she carried on with campaigns when Barack had taken a break,” he said.
Mokua said spouses must be ready for the back and forth altercations that mark the political space.
“A candidate’s spouse can therefore secure votes and be an asset provided she does not step on the toes of campaign secretariat staff and is aligned with campaign objectives,” he explained.
Mokua added that successful campaigns will give spouses specific programmes that are not in conflict with overall objectives
There is evidence that overbearing spouses can make campaign secretariat uncomfortable and nervous. This means that the campaign secretariat will not deliver. Such spouses make campaign mistakes that burn bridges
He pointed out that candidates' spouses can be a liability if they do not possess people skills, according to Mokua.
“There is evidence that overbearing spouses can make campaign secretariat uncomfortable and nervous. This means that the campaign secretariat will not deliver. Such spouses make campaign mistakes that burn bridges,” he said.
Mokua added that spouses who are not aligned with campaign messaging will often deliver conflicting messaging and distort a campaign's objectives.
“Some spouses who consider themselves superior to the candidate may also end up as liabilities. All said and done, an informed and knowledgeable spouse who has people skills and mobilisation experience is an asset to the campaign and the converse holds,” he said.
Ida and Rachael have been addressing political rallies as the race to State House gathers momentum.
In January, Rachael addressed a political gathering in Keringet, Nakuru county.
Around the same time, Ida accompanied her husband to Kuria, Migori county, where she addressed a rally and urged the residents to support the ODM leader.
Before addressing residents of Kirenget, Rachel had been engaging women from the area in an empowerment programme called Joyful Women Organization.
On March 24, Rachel took her husband’s campaign to Makueni county.
Please don’t bother yourself because my husband is giving donations. He will give, give, give, give and give until the day he runs out of money
She met and held discussions with more than 3,000 women opinion leaders from Kibwezi West and Makueni constituencies where she pleaded with them to rally behind her husband.
During the meeting, she dismissed critics of her husband who accuse him of dishing out “dirty money” to churches and special interest groups.
Rachel said nothing will stop Ruto from giving generously to those who need support.
“Please don’t bother yourself because my husband is giving donations. He will give, give, give, give and give until the day he runs out of money,” she said.
A spouse can also make an impassioned and defensive attack on a rival with less controversy because it is seen as the emotional prerogative of a spouse to do so.
During the launch of Azimio la Umoja on December 10, 2021, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Ida was among the key speakers.
She handed over Raila to the people of Kenya, pledging to support his presidential ambitions and walk with him every step of the way.
A staunch supporter of her husband’s bid, Ida has found herself in unfriendly waters when visiting some areas.
She was heckled by her fellow women last Saturday, when she graced the Catholic Women Association prayer day in Meru county, though an invited guest at the event.
It was a church function and not a rally but August 9 politics still played out.
Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya
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