It is another year that promises fireworks as political heavyweights advance their agenda and as always, ODM leader Raila Odinga hardly misses out on this.
Having dominated the last decade, politically speaking, Raila begins the new decade at the centre of the political mix. The only difference with the beginning of last the decade is that back then, he was the Prime Minister in the coalition government with President Mwai Kibaki. Today, he is an " opposition leader within the government".
Dangerously approaching 75, Raila has "matured" politically and knows what to do at the right time. And with handshake politics right on top of the 2020 political agenda, the former Prime Minister's role in it can never be wished away. However, he must tread with caution.
Raila's critics have in the past accused him of allegedly trying to use it (handshake) to get power through the backdoor.
His alleged statements that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report will be a political "Tsunami" against those opposed to it elicited mixed reactions with the allies of the Deputy President William Ruto coming out guns blazing to warn him of threatening people. The DP himself was not left behind as he went on a rampage on his Twitter handle taking Raila head-on.
With this in mind, and with the perception that BBI is a Raila-Uhuru political tool for 2022, perhaps it is high time for Raila to tone down on his political rhetoric. Remaining vocal on matters BBI and 2022 election has provided his critics with a fertile ground to fire attacks at him.
Raila should instead use his political lieutenants like among them ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Minority Leader John Mbadi ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohamed to handle to 'dirty politics'.
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