President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA leader Raila Odinga [Photo/File]
As the general polls near, everyone is strategizing on how to deliver knock out (KO) and NASA’s Joshua Raila Odinga seems to have found them an opening.
The major boost for Odinga is the gap between current leadership and the common Mwananchi. ‘Wanjiku’ understands the importance of major projects like Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) but fails to have a direct link to her daily life.
The talk of GDP and GNP is unnecessary music. This is where Jubilee messed and Raila will use it to knock them out.
Another issue that will affect the reigning government is reputation. A history of corruption has not been good news even to the least educated. Jubilee is a vulnerable entity due to many reputation holes in their CV. The public court will not spare them and the only savior is the ghost of tribalism.
Political battles are also won via actions not arguments. The opposition will accuse the government of explication instead of acting. The Unga debate and corruption sagas have been fought verbally than through strict action.
The President was even courageous enough to ask what the public want him to do. He looked an unhappy president leading hopeless citizens. This kind of honesty is detrimental to politicians.
Odinga has also mastered the use of absence to create honor and respect. The famous ‘Baba while you were away’ narrative proves how this works.
President Kenyatta should emulate this should he win on 8th August. Presence everywhere makes many to underrate his power. Odinga has utilized this extremely well.