Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has weighed in on the clout that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga wields in the current post-handshake political environment.
In a reply to an ODM party tweet that valorised Mr Odinga over his courage in taking an oath in 2018, Mr Mutunga held the view that the former Prime Minister had now become a co-president.
"The political, and not the constitutional and legal reality is that RAO, in some respects, has become the Co-President of Kenya! A “civilian coup” is happening with our eyes wide open. BBI seeks both legal and political legitimacy of this coup. Over to you PIL folks," the former Chief Justice wrote.
Mutunga's appraisal of Raila's political influence is consistent with the view held by a section of political pundits who see the ODM leader as being second in the grand scheme of things after President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Some people have even claimed that Mr Odinga has influenced some changes in President Uhuru's government.
The two leaders shook hands after months of political tensions triggered by the disputed presidential elections in 2017.
Their coming together gave birth to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), whose report was launched to members of the public over 2 moths ago.