This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
Raila's 2022 Presidential Ambitions: A Web of Alliances and Power Plays ¶
On March 9, 2018, Raila Odinga's meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta resulted in the now famous handshake, which has had far-reaching consequences for Kenya's political landscape.
The handshake has significantly altered the relationship between President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, who were once close allies. The two have since drifted apart, with Raila comfortably walking side by side with the President, much to the chagrin of the Deputy President.
Raila's actions have left many in the opposition, including his former allies in the National Super Alliance (NASA), in disarray. His renewed crusade for a referendum has thrown them into total confusion, with some clutching at straws as the NASA ship drowns.
Switching political alliances has been the hallmark of Raila's political style over the years. Since Kenya's return to multi-party politics over two decades ago, there is no major political event and alignment that has not featured Raila.
With the NASA alliance in limbo, Raila appears set to stage a new political coup of sorts, as his supporters continue to exert pressure on him to bring home the fruits of his new deal with President Kenyatta and the push for a referendum seem to define his new strategy.
Regardless of which political side one stands, the handshake has already reshaped the 2022 presidential race and heightened the stakes for the Uhuru succession this early.
Proponents of the view that Raila's ultimate intention is to derail and eventually jettison Ruto from the frontline of the Kenyatta succession race, a prognosis that Ruto has publicly admitted, are advancing the view that Raila's actions are part of a larger plan to block Ruto's path to the presidency.
Whether Raila will succeed in his current political scheming, only time will tell.
— Vitalis Musebe, veteran journalist and political commentator
Courtesy, The Star
