ODM leader Raila Odinga is one of the most influential men in Kenya and Africa. He is an enigma, a man surrounded by many questions as to his legibility to be the president of Kenya.
And then, from nowhere, a man he had considered an ally, pokes him in the eyes. How Jimi Richard Wanjigi can all of a sudden dismiss Raila as a man who has nothing more to offer Kenyans is disturbing, if not an outrageous.
When Raila was arrested and detained over the 1982 coup, where was Jimi? Wasn’t he seated comfortably in his flashy living room in Muthaiga changing channels on his huge television?
I can only conclude that Jimi is fronting for some political bigwigs who want Raila out of the presidential race.
Like other politicians such as ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, the business mogul can’t be president merely by attacking Raila. Let him show Kenyans a single tangible project he has financed for the good of society. Being a wealthy man, Jimi should have showed his charitable side by educating orphans or helping widows but he hasn’t, unless he tells us.
The 59-year-old businessman-turned politician says he is running for the presidency on the ODM ticket ostensibly to ignite an economic revolution. Why does he challenge Raila yet it’s no secret that he is playing to a certain gallery full of his political masters?
Does Jimi expect Raila to hand him the 16-year-old party on a silver platter? Is he burying Raila politically before his time comes. Unfortunately, he won’t succeed.
The ODM boss has vied for the presidency four times, which he has performed exceptionally well. Were it not for the bandits counting the vote, he would have been president 15 years ago.
Wanjigi was a -go-between in the 2013 political pact between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. This alone cannot give him the bragging rights to take on the former prime minister as if he is dealing with a cattle herder in the plains of Mogotio.
His relationship with Uhuru — his former schoolmate — fizzled out faster than a melting Atlantic snow. And before he could say, “Kwacha” he was out of TNA kitchen Cabinet to a steamy political vacuum.
The grapevine says he had used millions of his own money in funding UhuRuto expensive campaign hoping to recoup the funds when Jubilee took over the reins of power only for that thought to be a cropper.
The first term of UhuRuto was rocked by a series of scandals which included the controversial Eurobond amounting to Sh215.5 billion, which the office of the Auditor General said could not be accounted for.
This colossal amount of money found their way into some influential politicians and wheeler dealers’ pockets. That’s a story for another day.
Fast forward to 2017 and Jimi crosses over to Orange House where, he, materially and otherwise, backs Raila in his presidential bid. He was sure the ODM boss would clinch the presidency, which he did only that the counters of the votes didn’t think he deserved to be president.
Jimi’s new dalliance with Raila did not sit well with Jubilee and the billionaire’s expansive Muthaiga home was raided by security agencies. He was later dragged to court over tramped up charges of gun possession.
Since Raila did not become President, Jimi is planning to go back to his 2013 friends to start another dalliance believing that they will win the presidency and keep him close to their table for obvious reasons.
Anyone with a critical mind can see there is a game being played here by certain individuals pulling strings from behind the curtains. These shadowy figures are pushing to discredit the son of Jaramogi as good for nothing in order to elbow him out of the presidential race next year.
The proverbial camel wants more space in its host’s house and he is aiming to dislodge Raila to be the new owner.
Jimi is being used to gain a certain objective for a particular agenda as 2022 draws near.
