Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga was a long-serving opposition force in Kenya who was at the helm of ODM Party until late last month when he breathed his last.
Raila, son to the first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was a political genius who moved masses in all of his political meetings and rallies and was widely known for being a peace maker who could accept election results even when openly stolen from him. The best example was in 2007 when he won elections ‘fair and square’ against Mr. Mwai Kibaki but the latter, who was the incumbent, refused to hand over power.
Odinga would see the height of deaths that had been going on in the country because of the bungled general election, and decide enough is enough before accepting to shake hands with Mr. Kibaki(the birth of Handshake). His victories would also continue being stolen in subsequent elections but, as usual, incumbents would refuse to hand over office. Mr. Odinga would, therefore, weigh between people fighting to death and people having peace, and, he would choose the latter – peace for the nation.
Due to that spirit, he ended up shaking ‘peaceful hands’ with four heads of State – Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta and now Dr. William Ruto .
Raila Odinga is also and widely known for fighting for the current 2010 Constitution and the many freedom and democratic rights we enjoy now. Even though he never occupied the Statehouse, he was a powerful man who could force change of laws and dictate how the country will be run. All these he easily did from the opposition side.
It could take this country over 100 years to have another Raila with us.