The March 9th handshake came as a surprise to many, following the tumultuous electioneering period. It was unprecedented from the man people have come to love and hate (depending on their political affiliation) in equal measure.
Raila Odinga suddenly shifted from the man who kept the government in check, to the man – methinks – drawing cheques from the government.
It marked an end to the animosity that was often fervently expressed in public spaces and even online between the supporters of Raila Odinga and Jubilee government.
The common narrative thrown around by Jubilee supporters was the fact that Raila Odinga was the father of opposition and this would be maintained until he retired from politics. This backfired on them when the ‘father of opposition’ is suddenly in government on unknown capacity.
In the Rift Valley, where Deputy President William Ruto is widely expected to succeed Uhuru, Raila’s entry into the government complicated things. It, in fact, turned DP Ruto into an opposition leader, fighting Raila from within. The referendum debate being floated by 'baba' will be seen as a key test to the 2022 succession politics.
If you believed in the course Raila and NASA family fought for, then 'lord of poverty' was one term you never failed to hear. Pictures of the sorry state of Kibera were shared widely and stories of how Raila failed to improve the standards of the people despite serving them for many terms as a Member of Parliament and even as the Prime Minister. These very people were up in arms when the VAT on fuel was increased because 'baba' was silent on it.
Even though the handshake is being touted as the best way for the country, it is Raila who is having the last laugh. The public is now on their own, united by the quest to keep the government in check. Tough times for the common man mean that they are in this ship called Kenya together. When Kenya sinks we all sink together.
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