Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka believes his decision to join President Mwai Kibaki’s faction in 2008 helped save thousands of lives in the country.
Kalonzo, who finished third in elections according to defunct ECK, was appointed by Kibaki to be VP amid escalating violence in the country.
Odinga’s faction had disputed election results, accusing ECK of manipulating the results in favour of Kibaki, a move that sparkled violence across the country.
“I am sure that had I joined Raila in the dispute, the violence would have spread to my strongholds in Eastern region with disastrous consequences,” he writes in his memoirs; Against All Odds.
“We have millions of Kikuyu community living in Eastern region, some even in rural areas. Had I joined the ODM side, I am sure these Kenyans would have come under attack,” adds Kalonzo.
Kalonzo joined Odinga’s side later on in 2013 during presidential elections but the duo lost to President Uhuru Kenyatta.