The Star reported that President Uhuru Kenyatta's allies are planning ODM leader Raila Odinga's grand tour of Central Kenya as the handshake team begins to strategise for 2022 with or without the BBI.
This planned tour of Central by the handshake partners is long overdue. This is because the absence of aggressive marketing of Raila in the region has left a vacuum Deputy President William Ruto has comfortably occupied and taken advantage to make even bigger inroads in the region, which may be too late to undo.
Aggressive marketing of Raila has been particularly desirable not just because many in the region hate the man, but, unfortunately, some of that hatred is thanks to Uhuru, who stamped it to deny Raila votes in 2013 and 2017.
Wise men and women like the President, Jubilee vice-chairman David Murathe and many others in the 'system' have come around to saying Raila is not, after all, the devil he has been projected to be all these years.
Unfortunately, notwithstanding Uhuru and others’ efforts to erase some of the reputational damage Raila suffered at their behest, there is still widespread and deep-rooted hatred by many in Central, who would rather have the devil be President than him.
This is, of course, inherently backward, and must be taken head-on. Ironically, it is a sentiment Ruto has masterfully exploited as he attempts to plough his own way to the presidency.
For this reason, it behoves the President and those close to him to do everything they can to slay this ugly and vicious tribalism-driven hatred and lead in turning the tide of hatred against Raila.
The planned blitz in the region must convey a message of hope to the people who now hate Uhuru simply because he has embraced Raila as his older brother and that will likely endorse him as his successor.
To be sure, Raila evokes mixed emotions in Kenya — he is loved and loathed in equal measure and no politician divides opinion like him.
To his supporters, he is a democrat who has sacrificed a lot in his fight against bad governance and dictatorship. However, those who hate him see him as a scheming and selfish person, who will do anything to gain power.
One thing, however, everyone agrees Raila knows not how to hold grudges. He is certainly not as vindictive as many fear Ruto can be if he becomes President.
Indeed, these dual reasons form the basis why Raila is preferred by the system to succeed Uhuru though there are some who would rather someone else does other than Ruto.
That now Uhuru is determined to market Raila in Central is an indication there is consensus within the system that Raila is the man.
Marketing Raila in Central will not be an easy task, especially coming too late.
However, the good news is that Raila need only carry half of the votes in the region and that is realistic, especially if Uhuru endorses him as he is expected to.
Ruto may have exploited Raila’s hatred in the region and combined that with his populist messaging which has resonated for many, but Uhuru and Raila need to bring forth their best in giving people hope and optimism that better days lie ahead with a Raila presidency—and that, no, he is not the devil but the good man he is.
Samuel Omwenga is a legal analyst and political commentator
