Let me start by acknowledging that Raila like every other human being had many shortcomings. However, it is his profound bravery, positive contributions, and enduring qualities that will ensure he leaves behind a lasting and positive legacy.
Jana, Bishop Kodia asked an important question “How many politicians today can fit into the shoes of Raila Odinga?” My answer is simple NONE. ABSOLUTELY NONE. This is because Raila was not merely a politician; he was a political juggernaut, an institution unto himself, and powerful and influential as the government of the day. Allow me to prove it!
You see, in every functional democracy, there exist two centers of power: PEOPLE’S POWER and STATE POWER.
People’s power refers to the collective capacity of citizens to influence, challenge, or even remove those in power either through voting, protests, demonstrations, activism, civil disobedience, or even revolution. In short, all power belongs to the people, and it is the people’s power that legitimizes state power.
State power, on the other hand, refers to the authority and capacity of a government to maintain order, govern, enforce laws and administer justice. This is mostly exercised through coercive means - the use of force or violence. It is the state that often holds the monopoly of violence.
I regard Raila Odinga as the greatest politician Kenya has ever produced because he was the only politician who managed to channel the people’s power and use it to keep state power in check. This is precisely why he earned the title “The People’s President.”
Raila was the only politician who could call for maandamano and send the entire government machinery into panic mode. His power stemmed directly from the people, a power so profound that neither Uhuru’s government nor Ruto’s ever dared to challenge it by trying to arrest or worse unalive him.
I remember in 2023, Ruto, Gachagua, and their naive advisers allegedly plotted to assassinate Raila, and Oburu Odinga publicly warned Ruto that any attempt on Raila’s life would plunge Kenya into chaos worse than Rwanda’s and would mark the beginning of the end of his presidency. And judging by the recent pandemonium and security breach we’ve witnessed in the country since Thursday over Raila’s death, Oburu’s words were clearly not empty.
One must ask, how did Raila manage to command such immense influence over the people without using money to buy loyalty as is common among today’s politicians?
Who among the current political class can match Raila’s stature, courage, and moral conviction? A man who was fearless, ready to take bold risks and willing to suffer the consequences of his choices for the sake of justice and democracy? Who?
Finally, both Raila and his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, were among the very few top tier politicians who championed for the rights and recognition of the Mau Mau freedom fighters -the true heroes of Kenya’s first liberation. My late grandfather, himself a Mau Mau veteran, spoke with great admiration and respect for Jaramogi.
RIP RAO🕊