RAILA’S TIES WITH KIBAKI MAY COST HIM PRESIDENCY COME 2012

According to recently released Gallup poll, Prime Minister Raila Odinga enjoys the highest approval ratings at 85 percent compared to any other official in the grand coalition. Inasmuch as this appears advantageous to the ODM leader, it is full of pros and cons in relation to his bid for the 2012 presidential elections. Raila s perception is based on the fact that he is the most proactive senior government official, given his stance on the Mau forest , the Kenya ports authority performance, his intervention at the National Social Security Fund ,among other issues, notwithstanding a general belief among majority of Kenyans that he was cheated of victory in 2007 presidential election. Currently most Kenyans are convinced that Raila enjoys a good working relationship with president Kibaki. In run-up to 2007 general elections, Raila Odinga ran on a platform of change while Kibaki ran on a develop record based on his first five years term at the helm of presidency. Both candidates knew that two thirds of the electorate was the youth, therefore they coined their manifesto to fit the wishes of the young people in Kenya. majority of youths were swayed to vote for Raila Odinga since any form of change would mean better lives, equal job opportunies both in government and private sector regardless of gender, tribe or any other form of discrimination to all Kenyans since many had not substantially benefited from what the PNU side was claiming to be a development record. After the signing of the pact between president Kibaki and prime minister Raila Odinga many Kenyans especially the youths celebrated hoping that while Kibaki was going to continue with his focus on development, the presence of Raila will bring in a tinge of change like bringing in integrity, ending nepotism in government, corruption and tribalism, so as to create job opportunities to the Kenyan youth and improving the economy of the country than it was when Raila was in the opposition. So far corruption, tribalism, nepotism continue to be part and parcel of the current government hardly different from the past. It is more difficult to get a job; a well paying job in government that one qualifies for in Kenya without knowing somebody who can push for you. Kenyan youths on both campaigns were promised jobs and other opportunities during campaigns, so far neither Raila nor Kibaki has remembered any of those youths who worked tirelessly for them to ensure their election or reelection respectively. After the elections, the youths who were tarmacking just went back to the road as usual. What is being witnessed is continued recycling of people who have been in government for a very long time at the pretext of experience while the majority of young people are denied those positions with arguments that they are not experienced. While Kibaki exits in 2012, many Kenyans believe that Raila will put up a case that he is the most qualified and justified to be the fourth president of Kenya. While that will be a valid case, Raila needs to remember the youth that he promised change. He must remember the bread, butter and groceries politics.Kibaki lied to the youths it has been confirmed.Raila must discuss and deal with the youth agenda on time, because those are the promises they made. It is easy for Kibaki to shortchange the youth and go away with it since he is serving his last term if at all that is his attitude, but for Raila the case is different. He has a duty to prove that he is a peoples darling as he presented himself during campaigns. If the current trend continues, it will be difficult for Raila to de-link himself from Kibaki come 2012; he may end up paying for Kibaki’s mistakes at the ballot box. FWAMBA NC FWAMBA BOX 41046, NAIROBI +254721779445