Baba has 'stolen' the president again!

After the hotly contested 2017 polls, no one could imagine that Raila Odinga could see eye to eye with the then president Uhuru Kenyatta. However, one year later in 2018, the two emerged from the Harambee house presidential office holding hands in what was later came to be known as a handshake government. 

 Raila Odinga and President William Ruto (Photo Courtesy)

This unholy alliance was unwelcome by William Ruto allies who viewed the same as uncharacteristic of a democratic dispensation. This formed one of the basis for which William Ruto and his allies used to campaign ahead of the 2022 polls.

During his campaigns, president Ruto stated that he would never allow any form of alliances between the opposition and government if he were to ascend to the top seat. 

Once sworn in, president Ruto and his deputy remained steadfast in denouncing any attempt to reach out to the opposition. 

Turning point

During the 2023 anti finance bill protests that were being led by opposition leader Raila Odinga, it is alleged that the two through a mediator agreed to work together and bury their political differences a fact that was denied by both parties. 

Fast foward to 2024, the country faced a monumental moment during the anti finance bill protests that were organized by Gen Z. The turning point came in back in June 25th when the young Kenyans stormed parliament. 

Days later, the president was forced to withdraw the finance bill 2024 in its entirety and dissolve his cabinet. 

He reached out to the leadership of Gen Z, who clearly stated that they were leaderless and faceless. The President agreed to a talk on X spaces to address some of the concerns that were raised by the young generation. 

One of the things that the President promised Kenyans was that he was to come up with a broad based government, that would be lean and efficient.

When naming his cabinet, he started with his first half, comprised mainly of officers that had been in the previous defunct cabinet. Speculation was rife that behind the scenes, President Ruto had reached out to his political foe, Raila Odinga and had offered him some of the most lucrative posts. 

True to the rumors, president Ruto finally named his full cabinet and had Joho, Mbadi, Oparanya and Opiyo wandai, as cabinet secretaries in what has come to be known as a broad based government.

Since this new found brotherhood, the government has deployed all its resources to ensure that Raila secures the AU chair seat. The former premier has been accompanying the president to international trips the current one being in Germany where the president signed agreements that would see Kenyans work in the European nation.

President William Ruto, Raila Odinga, Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi in Germany. (Courtesy)

It is obvious that Raila is quickly turning out to be the president's right hand man. Government officials have been frequenting his Capitol Hill offices, scenes that were last witnessed after the 2018 handshake with the former president. 

It is clear that Baba (Raila) has once again 'stolen' the president. We wish him well as he seeks the AU chair seat.