ODM leader Raila Odinga (left) and his deputy president Ligathi Gachagua. (File, Standard)
Word on the street is that former opposition heavyweight Raila Odinga (popularly known as Baba) will retire from politics next month. It is unclear what prompted this drastic decision, but there is speculation that the embarrassment of images of him taking a nap in China circulating online may have something to do with this momentous move.
“Baba is a politician and must feel embarrassed to be attacked online by young people,” the aide said. “These young people are as young as his great-grandchildren and incurring their scorn is an intolerable humiliation for Baba.”
But what irks him even more are the online trolls of the young people collectively known as Generation Z, who go to great lengths to remind him that his newfound friendship with President Bill Ruto is dancing on the graves of young people killed by police in recent protests, essentially undermining the years of work he has put into democratizing Kenya.
“The young people are right,” said a political analyst who has monitored political transitions in East Africa over the past three decades. “For a generation, Odinga was synonymous with progressive politics in Kenya, but now he will be remembered as an opportunistic politician who never saw an opportunity he wasn’t willing to exploit.”
“Let me be clear: this is not speculation. Odinga made deals with (Daniel arap) Moi, (Mwai) Kibaki, (Uhuru) Kenyatta and (current President) Ruto. He will rightly be remembered as a politician who supports the status quo.”
News of Baba’s impending retirement was met with jubilation in Karatina, the home base of Vice President Ligaty Gachagua, popularly known as Riggy G., who has long campaigned for Baba’s retirement. Riggy G. was not immediately available for comment but was seen walking along the Mombasa seafront, possibly as part of the celebrations.
“We think Riggy G may return to the mountains for meditation and gratitude,” revealed a DP-allied MP. “He has been praying and fasting for such an outcome,” he added. “Riggy G has dreamed of driving Baba to Bondo in a wheelbarrow and retiring him. Now that the wheelbarrow has been somewhat damaged in an internal UDA dispute, he will limp there.”
The idea of Baba returning to Bond seems a bit premature as his aides have made it clear that he is retiring from party politics to work full-time as a “national project”, meaning that if his mission to Addis Ababa as African Union chairman proves unsuccessful, he will be given a soft landing and a soft but influential role in government.
“It is widely known that Mr Odinga becomes restless when he is away from the centre of state power,” said one academic who has written a biography of Mr Odinga. “When he becomes restless, he takes to the streets. They will go to great lengths to keep him off the streets, with scouts, chase cars and bodyguards garlanding him. No doubt they will roll out the red carpet for him.”
So if Odinga continues to be involved in national and local politics, is the idea of retirement misplaced? “It’s a mistake to use Odinga and retirement in the same sentence,” said a political scientist. “This is a strategic retreat as he tries to discern the best path to salvage his legacy in the aftermath of the Gen Z-led protests. He is trying to find his footing again in a time of unprecedented uncertainty.”
Don concluded: “I think the proverb ‘mtaka vyote hukosa vyote’ was made for Odinga. He wants to have his cake and eat it too. He wants to remain part of government while serving in the opposition. He wants to retire but still remain politically active. If the Addis mission fails, then, in the words of the youth, he is atadjua hajui!”