[Raila Odinga at a past event in US. His decision to postpone swearing-in may have been as a result of pressure from US. Photo/Dennis Onyango]
President Donald Trump's continued push for dialogue between Raila Odinga and Presidnet Uhuru Kenyatta may have after all carried the day, insists Peter Kagwanja.
Washington DC had persuaded Odinga to drop his swearing-in plans and instead embrace dialogue, a move that may have informed Raila's Sunday surprise decision.
"As US, we insist on national dialogue that is transparent and objective. We urge him (Raila) to drop the swearing-in plans," said Trump's special envoy Robert Godec.
But Kagwanja says Odinga's international reputation may not allow him to contravene the very constitution he fought for.
"His decision to postpone is a good gesture that he values his reputation and constitutionalism. I did not see a situation where he defies America which has given options for him.
Last week, Trump's envoy for African Affairs spent three days in Kenya dissuading Raila against swearing in plans adding that dialogue would serve the right purpose.
Although his next course of action remains unclear, Kagwanja says the veteran leader would eventually reach Uhuru for dialogue.
"I believe Sunday's postponement is the step towards embracing dialogue as suggested by US,' he told NTV.