Raila wants coronation, not election

May. 09, 2016, 

By MOSES KURIA

RAILA Odinga’s comments on the Al Jazeera Head to Head interview, where he said the Kikuyus do not vote for him because of “tribal chauvinists”, are as unfortunate as they are presumptuous. 

Odinga has a long history of violence. Either he courts violence or violence has a penchant for stalking him. By nature the Kikuyu community abhors violence. 

It is an open secret that the Kikuyu community is predominant in two areas – enterprise and agriculture. These are sectors that depend on certainty, reliability and continuity. 

In essence the Kikuyu community can only thrive on peace and tranquility. 

It does not help much that Odinga’s name has been associated with the 1982 attempted coup, a fact he even acknowledged in his own biography. 

It does not help that his multiple attempts at the Presidency have resulted in bloodshed in this country, most tragic being the 2007-2008 post- election violence. 

It actually makes matters worse that Mr Odinga has proven time and again that the only election result he will accept is the one that declares him President. 

He is actually looking for a coronation, not an election. Anyone who stands in the way of the coronation is either a tribalist or a thief, or both. 

These are the factors that continue to make it difficult for Mr Odinga to win Kikuyu support. Moreover, the Kikuyu community loves honesty and forthrightness. 

These are virtues so necessary to running a successful enterprise. Nothing illustrates this than their love for Deputy President William Ruto. 

Despite a troubled past between Kikuyus and Kalenjins, the Kikuyu nation has taken cognisance of Mr Ruto’s determination to confront the dark past with honesty and openness. 

History is truly a wonderful lesson to learn but a terrible bed to sleep in. 

When one chooses to learn from the pages of history, the Kikuyu nation refuses to sleep in the bed of history. That is why in 2022 Kikuyus will vote for Mr Ruto to a man. 

I pray to almighty God to bless Mr Odinga and myself with good health so we can both live to witness Kikuyu tribal chauvinists vote for a Kalenjin. 

I have unsolicited and gratuitous advice for Mr Odinga. I know if you do something for so long it is hard to believe there is any other way of doing this. 

Welcome, Mr Odinga, to the new Kenya. It is time you left the old Kenya. The Kenya of this tribe against that tribe. 

The Kenya of this economic class versus the other is gone. 

This region versus that region, this gender against the other gender, are all relics of the old Kenya, which you have flatly refused to leave.