Pentagon wives: Which mama has the fire to run state house?

 Ida Odinga, Tessie Mudavadi and Pauline Kalonzo Photo: Courtesy

For the entire duration of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s presidency, Mama Ngina was the impeccably dressed mother of the nation, who stood quietly besides the tough-as-nails ‘Burning Spear.’ It actually wasn’t until a few years ago that Kenyans first heard Mama Ngina Kenyatta speak.

After Jomo’s death in 1978, it would take 24 years before another First Lady swept into State House. Feisty, strong and independent-minded, there are two enduring images of former First Lady Lucy Kibaki: leaning demurely to receive a peck on both cheeks from Mwai Kikabi when he was presenting his nomination papers for the presidency in 2007, and that unforgettable morning in Mombasa, when she strolled next to the commander-in-chief, who was nonchalantly carrying her handbag.

By the time the soft-spoken, marathon-running and wildly popular Margaret Kenyatta walked into State House, Kenyans were hooked and the phenomenon of First Lady had, in the public eye, become as closely knit to the presidency as the kitchen Cabinet.

In the event that the Pentagon, composed of five men who insist their leader will be a first among equals, routs Jubilee, a different woman will become one of the most powerful people in Kenya. But who among the ‘Pentagon Wives’ has the steel and flair for the job?  

Political scientist Barrack Muluka says Ida Odinga is without doubt the most colourful of them all.

“She has always been by Raila’s side, but the loss of her first-born really devastated her. Ever since Fidel passed on, Ida has kept a low profile. As a mother and wife, she has really suffered. From back in the day when Kanu jailed her husband, and when things were just about to settle, she lost her son, and then her daughter got sick.

“As a mother, she’s probably wondering, ‘what went wrong?’ As a wife, she asks, ‘when can I have my husband back?’ But that won’t happen because her husband has been donated to Kenyans,” says Muluka.

The political scientist adds that Ida’s previous work with NGOs and the civil society and her own networks within the political circles make her the ideal First Lady.

“It won’t be anything new to her. She has been in the limelight since 1982, and over the years, has always been a step or two from being First Lady. To Raila’s supporters, she is their First Lady who doesn’t overshadow her husband’s power, but is still a force to reckon with and influential in her husband’s circles.”

Asked about the impact Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s wife would bring to the presidency, Muluka doesn’t have much to say.

“Kalonzo is very private about his wife and children. Kalonzo is a politician and doesn’t know any other career, and even if he became president, he has to stick in that space and only bring his wife out when necessary. He has over the years managed to run his political affairs without his wife standing publicly by his side, so there won’t be a huge change even if he became the president,” Muluka reckons.

This, he says, is a scenario that would equally play out if Isaac Ruto became president.

“Isaac (Ruto) is like Kalonzo. His wife is a strong character who supports him to the hilt, but avoids the limelight. But if called upon to stand on a national stage, Engineer Esther Ruto will take up the challenge like a fish to water.”

Citing Imelda Marcos as an example of a head of state’s wife who was a figure of hate in her native Philippines, Muluka notes that having a prominent First Lady is a double-edged sword.

“It can bring in the votes, or make you lose at the ballot. Look at First Ladies like Nancy Reagan or Nyerere’s wife. Mrs Peron was popular in Argentina. Grace Mugabe is a total disaster who can’t hold a candle to Sally Mugabe. Americans didn’t love Hillary as much as they loved Michelle Obama. Some First Ladies were loved by the people and it could be said their husbands got voted in because their wives had a connection and love from the people,” he says.

Muluka also explains that the biggest problem most political wives deal with is lack of privacy.

“What politicians’ wives hate is that supporters follow their husbands to the inner sanctum of their homes. The wife loses the husband to the people and most wives take this very badly,” explains Muluka.