How Mbadi and Wandayi are key to Raila's legacy

The appointment of ODM members into the Cabinet is a double-edged sword on which hangs the legacy of ODM leader Raila Odinga or annihilation of the current political class.

It has been argued that if President William Ruto had not become President in 2022, no one would have predicted that he had capacity to be so unpopular to the point of attracting the current wrath.

Instead, he would be a fierce leader of opposition, reminding us every day of what we missed by not electing him. For two years, Raila has enjoyed that luxury as he pokes holes into Ruto’s government from the sidelines. 

The subject of Raila and Kenya’s lamentations in general have mostly emanated from decisions made at the Treasury and the Ministry of Energy. Raila has been particular on the increase of levies and taxes. He has also been vocal on the government-government deal entered into between Kenya and foreign companies for supply of fuel.

On this, he has been categorical, saying the deal had been engineered to profit a few as the rest of Kenyans bear the burden.

With those ministries in the hands of his loyal and trusted servants, John Mbadi and Opiyo Wandayi, the expectation is they are going to correct the mistakes made by their predecessors.

However, unlike in the coalition government where Raila shared power with Mwai Kibaki, this time around they are on their own, and their success would depend on goodwill from President Ruto.

ODM is a people-oriented movement. By virtue of its policies and its manifesto, ODM aims for a welfare state where every citizen is assured of basic services and some form of social protection.

However, going by President Ruto’s speech just before their appointment, the expectation is Mbadi, Wandayi, Wycliffe Oparanya, and Hassan Joho will have to fit into The Plan and pursue the Bottom-Up-Economic Agenda (BETA).

On paper, BETA is not far off from ODM aspirations. However, on the ground, it is a nonexistent policy. Instead, some policies have made life even harder for people.

If it is the president’s intention to drown with the opposition, then he can shut off any new ideas and continue vetoing every decision. If that be the case and the status quo remains his success would be obliterating Raila and his opposition party completely. He would lose his own legacy too.

Nonetheless, I believe the President genuinely wants to have a feel of what Azimio and ODM have to offer. In that case, he must allow the incorporated ministers to merge their ideas into The Plan.

Mbadi and team have a short time to save their leader’s legacy and be useful to the Kenya Kwanza government in the face of Gen-Z wrath. When formally appointed, Mbadi’s greatest task would be preparation of next year’s budget.

For Wandayi, the first assignment would be to review the government-to-government oil importation deal, cost of power, and the expensive power purchase agreements. Therein lies the trap.