Raila, 80, seeks liberation from Kenyans in his quest for time 'lost' in detention, exile

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga addresses mourners during the burial of the late Col (rtd) James Gitahi Nguyo, in Maanzoni, Machakos County, on March 15, 2025. [Emmanuel Wanson, Standard]

Raila Odinga aka Baba claims he joined the Kenya Kwanza administration to forestall a military coup that he says he learnt was in the offing, in response to the Gen-Z protests, last June. Well, well, even though Baba is regarded a reliable source, and he has been privy to military coups in the past, as he did in August 1982, when some junior soldiers attempted a power grab, the Ministry of Defence has dismissed his claims as baseless.

Let’s not get into the politics of whether Baba would lie about such a thing; what I found most intriguing is why he was hesitant to join in the coup, given his alacrity for joining coups in the past.

It’s equally confounding that if such a plot was in the offing, which arm of the military would have grabbed power while the rest were deployed to the streets to restore order. In other words, it would have been difficult to issue two different commands to the military, at the same time.

I could be wrong, of course, especially since it’s hard to know when Baba is speaking as a government insider or leader of the opposition. Or when he’s speaking as an ordinary citizen with tentacles that reach the inner sanctums of power, and into army barracks.

The truth of the matter is that Baba owes no one an explanation for his choices. Other politicians are always cutting deals and making or unmaking their minds. If I were him, I’d have issued a brief statement along these lines:

“My fellow citizens, I am 80 years old. I have seen it all. I have been jailed for nine of those years. I even went into exile. I lost many years when my peers were making money. I should be allowed some room to catch up.

“Sometimes, my life has been punctuated with tragedy. I lost my eldest son. Some family members have suffered ill health. And the same powers that jailed me, placed my father under house arrest.

“Kenyans claim they are waiting for me to liberate them from State oppression. But they elected for the same people they are asking me to remove. There are 55 million Kenyans. I too, need liberation from Kenyans!”