President, Kalonzo and Raila are 'cousins' and should unite

Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, on behalf of Rigathi Gachagua and DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa, recently urged Raila Odinga to join their quest to oust William Ruto in 2027. Good idea, huh?

But here’s the question: If Raila has already deemed Ruto’s government fit and Kalonzo and Co. view Ruto’s government as evil and unfit, what fellowship can a purported oppressive regime have with a regime that promises to offer alternative governance? What communion has a purported political saviour and a perceived oppressor?

There is a proverb from the Embu people that says, “Muceera na mukundu akundukaga tagwo” (he who walks with a leper catches leprosy). This resonates with the well-known saying, “Birds of a feather flock together.”

So, if Raila can be unplugged from Ruto and seamlessly integrated into Kalonzo and Co. alliance, then Kalonzo and Co. are not a better alternative. Let’s debate this supposition.

In his memoir, President's Pressman, the former presidential press secretary Lee Njiru, described politicians as “cousins”. Njiru, who served as a long-time press secretary to President Jomo Kenyatta and later President Daniel arap Moi, wrote that Kenyan “politicians are cousins”—just like jackals, dogs, and wolves. He wrote that despite appearing to be adversaries, they belong to the same “clan” and can turn on each other or align as long as it suits their interests.

Therefore, when Kalonzo and his allies’ ask Raila to ditch Ruto and join them, it reflects the interconnected and often self-serving nature of political alliances where rivalries can quickly morph into partnerships of convenience. It’s a sharp exposition of the fluidity of political relationships in our country that we must be ready to confront during the 2027 general elections.

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As it stands, Raila is seen by his critics as part of a perceived oppressive regime. His allies have secured Cabinet slots, and his once-tough stance against the Kenya Kwanza regime has softened. He has defended the President on many occasions, including on the botched sale of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last year.

Raila has three audiences in Kenya: Those who believe in his vision and mission for democracy, the sycophants, and the ardent haters. When he joined the Kenya Kwanza government, each group reacted differently.

The first group, those who believe in his vision, have been honest with him. They maintain that his decision to join the government he once opposed is a betrayal of his duty as an opposition leader. Even when Ruto pushed for Raila’s election as African Union Commission chair, this group remained suspicious of the government’s agenda.

The second group, the sycophants, make noise to the government when Raila is outside and defend the regime as long as Baba is part of it. To them, the government is evil when Raila is not part of it, but ‘white as snow’ when he is an insider.

Political sycophants display excessive, often blind loyalty or flattery toward leaders for personal gain, whether direct or perceived. The problem with political sycophants is that they disregard principles, ethics, and public interest in favour of, most times, an oppressive regime.

Therefore, Raila’s sycophants see nothing wrong with him joining a regime. They have a thousand reasons to justify their leader’s decision.

The third group, the Raila haters, have opaque reasons for their disdain. They hate Baba simply because he is Baba. Railaphobia has been passed on from generation to generation since the 1990s when he was among those who directly fought for the second liberation. To this group, Raila is never good—whether inside or outside the government.

So, Raila has not been viewed as a person different from the regimes that have ruled during his political career. Technically, he has worked with all the regimes. If Kalonzo and Co. are looking for an alternative government and hankering for Raila’s partnership, we cannot expect anything new from them. Can we?

 Dr Ndonye is a senior lecturer at Kabarak University’s Department of Mass Communication