Recent events in Nairobi Kenya showcase a very interesting turn of events politically.
A court ruling directing the executive to be advised that 2013 is the ideal time to hold the general elections has gone a long way to show the perception of Odinga every time his wishes don’t become true.
Odinga is clever, a schemer, and a political titan who hates criticism and losing. His political expediency is decades old making him seasoned and apt.
Unfortunately, as his time to retire politically edges closer, Odinga’s charisma further takes a plunge into muddy ethno-political waters making his character and person to be questioned.
Having used the policy of acquiescence as his tool of trade when serving as the country Prime Minister, Odinga nearly dispelled myth that he is a callous, incapable, tribal, and very Western leaning politician.
Unfortunately, he has thrown away that trump card and allowed confrontational schemes to be his tool of trade for two reasons; one, unless he compels political temperatures, he remains a little known and heard off since he thrives in high political temperatures.
Secondly, for his detractors particularly Ruto and Kenyatta, confrontation will lead these two to ethno-political confrontations and the ICC will call for their arrest; The two won’t take that bait rather will keep off Raila and give him some political peace he badly needs.
But Odinga is losing in streaks as none of his political strategies is yielding desired results, incensing him and greatly frustrating him such that he is no-longer aware of his credentials and doing damage control is all that suffices.
Odinga has made errors consequentially. He called for the arrest of Uhuru and Ruto which is a threat to the national security and rebuffed the IEBC and the Judiciary referencing them as fake.
Odinga is also accused of intimidating the top command of the IEBC with regard to the election date, something he has refused to comment on.
Odinga has used damage control to make up after immense criticism and political pressure from his allies and Western friends overwhelmed him this week.
In coming days Odinga will badly feature in the opinion polls as more discontent about his behavior and emotional person underscore the need to thoroughly examine his leadership capability.
Without prejudice, Odinga will continue to blaze his guns and as he runs short of rounds, he will certainly take a political dive as a respite for his own miscalculation.
