SUMMARY
- According to a survey by Governance Surveillance Center in Geneva in 2014, he was ranked the 13th most powerful and influential leader in the world
- The love for democracy has made Raila to make serious mistakes that have cost him the presidency
Raila Odinga is one of the few politicians in the world who are loved and loathed in equal measures. There is no doubt that Raila is the most powerful and influential politician in Kenya and the region.
According to the survey that was conducted by Governance Surveillance Center in Geneva in 2014, he was ranked the 13th most powerful and influential leader in the world.
Raila is also known to be a fighter of democracy, which made him to be detained twice, making him the longest serving detainee in Kenya. At the same, the man has been fighting corruption and he revealed major corruption allegations such as Eurobond and NYS scandals.
Unfortunately, Raila has not benefited from his fight for democracy and against corruption in Kenya, especially as far as winning a presidential race is concerned. The love for democracy has made Raila to make serious mistakes that have cost him the presidency.The most serious mistake Raila did was in 2008 when he chose to appoint Musalia Mudavadi the deputy PM, and not William Ruto. One of the main principles of democracy is equality, and may be Raila thought that, because Mudavadi was the first ODM deputy party leader, he deserved to be a DPM.
Raila might have forgotten or was ignorant of the fact that Ruto was the most influential and crucial key he needed to capture power. By accepting and encouraging Rutto to leave ODM, Raila forgot one of the most important rules of power that requires rulers to maintain their key allies at all cost. Raila needed Rutto to ascend to power, but Mudavadi needed Raila to be relevant and be close to power.
Apart from Raila-Ruto case, Raila has nominated MPs and and appointed some people to influential positions in Kenya in the name of democracy. Goods examples are Mwaura and Nyaga. The Latest being a 24 year-old Mercy Chebeni who was nominated in the senate.
Even though such moves make Raila look good in the public eye, they do not add value to his quest to be the Kenyan president. He should give such favors to key supporters he needs to increase his chances of becoming the president. Raila should acknowledge that to ascend to power, he does not need to be consistent and understandable, but he should strive to balance the interest of his key supporters. Therefore, by being democratic, Raila has lost key supporters like Ruto whom he needed to become the president of Kenya.
In addition, Raila should acknowledge the bitter truth that the corruption he is fighting is a tool to acquire and maintain power. Corruption is used directly or indirectly to maintain support and loyalty of keys to power. Even though this may be unethical, corruption is the powerful tool that is used to maintain political dynasties in the world, including Kenya.
The principles of democracy such as equality cannot make a person acquire or maintain power. Lack of ability, skills, and experience to maintain and enhance the loyalty and support of keys to powers has made Raila a political “failure”.
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