Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Photo/ nipate.com
Social and political commentator Mr Masika Wabilianga has revealed the biggest challenge that has denied opposition chief Raila Odinga the opportunity to capture the country's top seat.In his hypothesis, Wabilianga portrays the former Prime Minister as an individual who has a personality that endears him to a fanatical following and at the same time instills fear in others.This is not far from what the late Vice President Micheal Kijana Wamalwa once said that in Kenya there are two groups some suffering from Railamania while others are struggling with Railaphobia.The analyst further hypothesises that the domineering personality in Raila became evident when he pushed himself to be higher than the late Kijana Wamalwa and James Orengo to whom his father the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga left the mantle of power for the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy party (FORD).Raila first sought power in 1997 under the National Development Party (NDP) which he took from Stephen Oludhe, and emerged third.In 2000, he joined in the marriage of convenience with KANU but later bolted out after the then president Daniel Moi endorsed Uhuru Kenyatta for president.Feeling outwitted, Raila joined forces with Kalonzo Musyoka and the late George Saitoti to form Narc where he famously said 'Kibaki Tosha'. He would later fall out with Kibaki in 2005.But in 2007, Raila yet again fell out with Kalonzo Musyoka who went away with a million votes that could see him become the fourth president of Kenya. The same was witnessed in 2013 when Musalia Mudavadi also broke ranks with Raila.Wambilianga sees Raila's inability to keep his word and accept advice as his biggest challenge in the pursuit of power.For instance, the analyst says, Raila's push to have Mudavadi in NASA is a clear indicator that he is not keen to honor his word to Kalonzo concerning their 2013 Memorandum of Understanding in which he agreed to support the Wiper leader presidential bid in 2017.Wambilianga, however, has a solution for Raila on how he can bow out of politics a hero, as he enters his last years in the political circles."The writing is on the wall for them. At 72, Raila might find favour in history by placing his hand of blessing on one of the co-principals to become president," stated part of Wambilianga's hypothesis.If Raila fails to be in power after August 8th, would he have himself to blame?