After National Super Alliance (NASA) Principal Raila Odinga pulled a first and decided to meet his sworn-enemy turned brother President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenyans have not stopped talking. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry is now a political analyst. Both print and social media are washed with what the future holds for Kenya after the surprising Raila-Uhuru pact.
Many are optimistic though. The Raila-Uhuru pact is believed to be the best political decision for Kenya as it will help foster peace and spur development and economic growth.On Monday, 12th, NASA held a summit in Athi River.
All the principals attended and after a lengthy discussion involving weighty issues, the three re-appeared from the meeting hall in a show of unity.
They even planted trees together to prove to the world that they are together for a common course. This came at the back-drop of talks of disunity after some of the co-principals accused Raila of betraying then by going ahead to meet President Uhuru Kenyatta alone. But if the results of the Athi River meeting are anything to go by, it seems all is well in the house of Moses.
The same day, NASA strategist David Ndii addressed a press briefing at Okoa Kenya offices and announced that they have suspended People’s assembly plans. He said the two giants Raila and Uhuru requested them to do so.
The latest political development after the now famous Raila-Uhuru pact is the announcement made by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) that all Kenyans should support the pact and forget about those who speak about succession politics. Whichever way you look at it, this statement points at those who are interested in succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta.
We are talking about William Ruto, Moses Wetang’ula, Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka. Because William Ruto is already in Jubilee, ODM seemed to have targeted the three NASA co-principals. By telling them to shelve their 2022 ambitions and support the Raila-Uhuru pact, ODM seems to be breaking links with the three.
A keen observer would look beyond the words and remember what the three did to Raila on the day of the swearing-in of the people’s president. They skipped the event and they were labeled traitors and betrayers. Is this payback time for Raila? Is Raila deliberately frustrating his three co-principals for skipping his swearing-in event? They say revenge is best served cold. Like it or not, the Raila-Uhuru pact will remain on Kenyan lips for a very long time.