Ronald OtienoThe first time I became conscious of the impact of Raila Amollo Odinga was back in 2005 when my cousin made me choose between an orange and a banana. Back then, I thought these were just fruits. I vividly remember the day, arguing over the Referendum calendar that hung on the wall displaying The ‘Orange’- No and ‘Banana’ – Yes symbols.
I remember strongly choosing ‘Yes’, not knowing what it represented or meant, but just because I liked the banana fruit more than the oranges, and for a moment, I felt the old folks’ attention shifted to us as my cousin let out his mockery laugh towards me and mentioned that I belonged to the Kibakis.
Read also: The Mercurial Baba and his many Chameleon faces
The embarrassment I felt on that day for not picking Raila’s side was the beginning of my journey in understanding of the Kenyan political landscape. I began paying attention to why, very often, the adults would not go a day without mentioning the word ‘Jakom’ from this side of the country, who and what they meant by that.
Banning fruits and colors
Being a young, naive boy curious to learn more from fellow men, I wondered why him? Why Raila and not Kibaki yet he was the President of the country?
Then the 2005 elections played out, which again I marked as the day I believed, as to my perception back then, that this guy is surrounded by uncommon people, sycophants as some would put it, ready to do whatever as instructed by their leader, ‘Jatelo’.
I hail from the Revolutionary Kondele Roundabout, where Mr Odinga draws the core of his Nyanza support and holds complete sway. Here, the idea of even thinking of opposing him, let alone voicing contrary opinions, could invoke public backlash and worse, even physical harm.
Given that Orange Democratic Movement ‘’Kondele’’ was a true canvas of Mr Odinga’s decorated fan base, by extension, this attitude has made it hard to have a fair critique on Amollo ‘woun piny’ on his deeds and decisions.
By this principle of enforced uniformity at some poin,t unwanted colors were not allowed near Kondele, specifically the famous Kondele roundabout. It used to happen at the height of any political contention. It is said that it would trigger the healing pain which people had, so when putting on attires of provocative shades, you need to be cautious of where you will pass, or alternatively, do not put them on at all up until the tension subsides.
That Baba, who was a sworn democrat who fought to have everyone have their say, would have fruits and colours banned and removed from public spaces against the preferences of ordinary people, would prove one of his greatest ironies.
Banning dissent
Growing up amidst such occurrences, attending a few ‘Bunge la mwananchi’ at a young age, which was held under the City Clock that was later taken to ‘chini ya flyover’ and picking the attitude of my community people, made me have interesting thoughts towards the old man.
Why was discourse around him limited to praise? There were things you could not question, like the privileges, benefits or importance of having Baba as the political leader, efficacy of his methods, and the cost that was borne by everyone around us. It was like you were questioning the authority that you shouldn’t, you should just know he is the one, a good fellow, and accept that he is the leader and that’s the final ride by it.
The ones who would be courageous enough to ask on his political goodwill, would probably cause an offense and they shall be dismissed. The point was, never at any given opportunity to question ‘BABA’.
Generational divide
It was an approach that did not sit right with me. Baba himself was the father of Democracy: Every citizen has the freedom of speech and the ability to question anything, for democracy doesn’t fear questions it grows strong through them. Perhaps silence might protect power, but speech protects truth and these are just but a few philosophies that I saw push Mzee’s conviction around Democracy.
He was the current age ‘Joshua’ and by this time, I was grown enough to get mixed in the political emotions of the country. I subscribed to the hopeful feeling of reaching ‘Cannan’. With his famous line ‘I have seen the holy land,’ I wondered how the nation would be with him as the unifying figure occupying the presidential seat.
To some of us the GenZs, Mzee’s name did not really hold a significant meaning and made no sense at all in the contribution and shaping of the country, mostly if you did not come from the Nyanza region you would not be following his political footprints, some labeled him just a political leader like any other politician we know that came from Kenya’s school of politics.
To some, he was just another Dynasty family with self-interests driven by capitalistic intentions. To some of us we grew up knowing him as the creator of ‘Maandamano’ and without him not a single would take place. He would call on and off protests and many obey without questioning.
The myth and legend
The King who had the throne but the system denied him the office. The Godfather of politics; he would seamlessly endorse a leader and they get successful in their political journey.
A leader who never used incentives to win the loyalty of crowd. The only man whose signature dance move touched the nation, leaving everyone mimicking his rhythm, a wave in Kenyan dance repertoire.
I have grown to witness an era like that of a folktale. A legacy built from blood, sweat, and tears. An advocate of justice, a rightful man close to being a righteous, who placed his pride aside and put his life in jeopardy, time without number to defend his people and all that he believed was right, a true symbol of courage.
He preached peace and unity, even in tempting moments when profiled as tribalist of the day. I have grown to see the true meaning of servanthood leadership; a man from an elite family who relates to common men at their lowest point, an embodiment of empathy.
I hold the conviction that Raila Amollo Odinga, as an individual, is a global icon, who by grace, just happened to hail from the Luo Land, and surely, not all Ramogi leaders come close to his philosophies, the ideologies, principles and values that he practiced while alive. What a lifetime of service. What a folktale to pass down through generations.
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