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Raila never betrayed Gen Zs; he saved Kenya at a critical moment

Opinion

By Kidi Mwaga | Dec 16, 2024

**Raila Odinga at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa for African Union Chairmanship Debate on December 13, 2024.** [Emmanuel Wanson, Standard]

It was a moment of great personal joy when I watched Raila Odinga's good performance at the AUC Debate dubbed 'Mjadala Afrika'. While I know many people Across Africa and the world were struck by Baba's clarity of mind, many of us reveled in joy because that is the horse we have always backed in every election. Raila’s life in public service has been nothing but exemplary. Kenya, to a great extent, remains a giant in the area of road network connectivity in large part due to his foresight. If you look at Thika Road today, you would not know that at the time it was being done, so much flak was directed at the office of Prime Minister, headed by Raila then, by people who would ultimately become the biggest primary beneficiaries of that highway. That flak, for history's sake was laced with ethnic innuendos much of which was misplaced.

At the office of Prime Minister, we had the conception of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport, whose potential in opening the northern corridor remains unmatched.

Listening to him speak with such mental clarity reminded me of one of Henry Kissinger, one the finest players in the geopolitical theatre, who at 88, came back to the White House as an advisor on matters Foreign Policy. David Sanger in his book ‘Confront and conceal’, says that Kissinger's predictions about the middle East panned out accurately 90 per cent of the time.

But today I want to deal with another aspect of Raila's political life.

A few months ago, young people enraged by years of myopia at addressing issues around socio-economic rights decided that they would not remain silent as Parliament processed a Financial Bill that was devoid of both heart and mind. As a consequence, we birthed the now famous 'Gen Z ' protest.

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But the protest quickly took an interesting turn on June 25 when Parliament was breached and a few other buildings in Nairobi CBD set on fire. Believers in article 37 (on right to peaceful assembly) were taken aback by the hooliganism.

While I am without evidence that the protests had been captured by evil, dark forces, my hunch told me so. Well in the succeeding period, we have witnessed a political slug fest that has had people point accusing fingers at their hitherto political soulmates as the people who infiltrated and captured the Gen z protests.

At that moment, our nationhood was at stake. The state stood repudiated by the young people and merchants of anarchy were circling over our heads like a vulture over a carcass.

Many people say that Baba betrayed the Gen Zs by supporting and choosing to align with the President.

While I respect diversity of opinion, I believe in change that is brought through mainstream political processes. I say this as a student of history and statecraft. I have had a chance to examine the success and failure of the Arab Spring. I will say without fear of contradiction that it’s pointless to overthrow a leader if the system remains intact.

If you look at Kenya Kwanza or is its broad-based government, you would think it's Jubilee administration 2.0. A car wash attendant quipped that the two administrations are children of the same father.

So, did Raila betray the Gen Zs?

I believe that at the critical hour, when it counted the most, Raila saved what is most precious about this country; our nationhood. He helped the government regain its footing and the legitimacy to reconstitute a Cabinet. How that Cabinet performs is another debate.

In stabilising the government, he helped us to have a sane, political environment to discuss matters IEBC, to call out the police on excesses and to give ordinary citizens the chance to continue rebuilding their lives. A revolution is only good on history books. In real life it can spin out of control and you might end up with a worse form of dictatorship than that which you deposed. If in doubt, ask the Egyptian youth who filled Tahrir Square how Fatah El Sisi compares to Hosni Mubarak.

To paraphrase the words of Thomas Paine, let it be told to a future world that when our nationhood was at stake, Raila became the voice reason and restraint.

Mr Mwaga the convener Inter-Parties Youth Forum. [email protected]