VIDEO – RAILA TALKS ABOUT BEING THREATENED AND GIVEN ULTIMATUMS

When BBI narrative started moons ago, it seemed a smooth sailing for the two political leaders: Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta. Subsequent events in the country has brought previously unseen challenges to the document and the handshake in general.

Before the pandemic hit the world and our country, BBI fever was engulfing the country. The little opposition it received from Tangatanga could not do any harm to the mammoth rallies witnessed every week. It was election fever all over again. Even at one time key allies of Ruto begged to be included into this carnival.

It was not unlike Kenya to wholeheartedly support a document they knew none of its contents. Some political analysts have argued if not for Corona the constitutional amendments would have happened uncontested.

When the president announced banning of political rallies, he did not envision he was giving DP Ruto time to re-strategize. Rutos troops had suffered huge losses pre-corona. Kipchumba Murkomen and Susan Kihika were whipped in broad daylight. They were beaten into submission without putting a fight. They went off without a whimper. A few days later, they would appear online looking haggard and spent. Relieved of their official duties they became online evangelists. The whipping brought them closer to Jesus – the only positive thing from the whole affair.

A few days later, Kenyans could not imagine our corrupt politicians hanging another politician on basis of corruption. The Senate could not even let Waititu take the guillotine. They forced him to run around the house as we watched in awe from our television sets. It was a pitiful sight as Waititu was forced to speak a foreign language for hours. When he was haggard and his lips swollen from saying, ‘Mr, Speaker Sir’, his fellow corrupt countrymen sentenced him to hang. Kenyans could not comprehend what had just happened in the country. A few weeks later, normalcy would be returned when they acquitted one of their own.

With Ruto allies being hunted down, the lockdown was a much needed break. At his Karen office, he would spend long hours trying to look at ways to counter Raila and BBI wave. The hustler movement was a genius plan if it hadn’t been followed by equipping young Kenyans with wheelbarrows. It seemed Ruto and his team should not have worried much. The BBI seems to have shot itself in the foot. It seems like a hastily prepared term paper on the eve of submission. Despite all the hype, Kenyans are wondering what is it that the document aims to solve.

When Ruto stood in a hostile room of 6,000 pro BBI Kenyans and delivered a debilitating and scathing undress of the BBI document, it emboldened many Kenyans. They started to question the document through every available platform. Key issues were pointed out that needed to be changed in the document. The arrogance of the political class would be manifested once again when Sifuna (ODM Secretary General) and Amos Kimunya (NA Majority Leader) would say the report cannot be subjected to any further amendment. DP Ruto would pose a few days later, ‘How can you say it is possible to amend the constitution but impossible to amend the document that is being used to amend the constitution?’

Raila being political suave could not utter sentiments like those made by Sifuna. He read the mood of the country and maybe read the document. He met with governors to discuss the BBI. It was reported that the governors gave the ODM Leader an ultimatum to change the BBI document or they oppose it.

While it is becoming increasingly clear that there will be amendment to the document, Kenyans will never know for sure if Raila was held hostage by the governors. He has come out to strongly deny those accusations. Since the two sides of the story are coming from politicians, we will never know the truth.