NASA leader Raila Odinga at Okoa Kenya offices in Nairobi on August 16, 2017. He shelved his plans to be sworn in today, Tuesday. [Photo/The Star]Intense discussions among Nasa leader Raila Odinga, his family, NASA leaders and diplomats led by US Ambassador Robert Godec led to his shelving of his swearing-in idea.However, it is Raila's wife Ida who is understood to have played a key role in convincing Raila to drop the 'crazy' idea, according to a local daily.  Ida is said to have told those pushing for Raila’s swearing-in to swear in someone else, not her husband."She was very clear the swearing-in was crazy and wondered where it came from," a family member said as quoted by the Star on Monday.Ida has avoided active politics since she lost her son Fidel in January 2015 and her daughter Rosemary fell sick this year. Together with other family members, Ida were worried Raila could have been jailed for life if he had been sworn-in at the age of 72.From the onset, the other NASA principals were opposed. Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper, also NASA's Deputy President candidate; Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford-Kenya) all believed inauguration would hurt their cause. Separately and through lieutenants, they urged Raila to drop the idea. Kalonzo, tending to his ailing wife in Germany, raised objections through Wiper leaders, including Governor Kivutha Kibwana and Wiper deputy leader Farah Maalim.Mudavadi and Wetang’ula reportedly spoke with Raila several times last week and at the weekend and pushed for scrapping the idea. Their biggest fear was lack of a plan for what NASA would do after the oath was administered.They feared a confrontation with the police, who said they would arrest ‘President’ Raila, that could have caused the deaths of many people."The question asked was what happens after Raila is sworn in? The fact NASA could not protect its supporters made it possible for old counsel to prevail," a NASA MP told the Star.Even Siaya Senator James Orengo, who was once vociferously in favour of swearing-in went quiet. David Ndii, chair of the organizing committee and a proponent of secession, is also said to have opposed the oath-taking.Only former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama was steadfastly in support of the inauguration in Mombasa.Political analyst and strategist Benji Ndolo castigated Nasa for what he said was promising gold and delivering tissue."Welcome to Cord-madness. NASA world. Talk, heave, puff, bluff play games, promise Gold, deliver tissue. Repeat process. Long live Baba," Ndolo wrote on his Twitter account.

Is there a story unfolding in your community? Let Hivisasa know