I grew up hearing of Raila as this brave leader who fought for Kenya, even read about it in school. So when I was old enough to form my own political opinions (the 2017 elections), I didn't see it, but I decided to give him time. Maybe I didn't understand politics. Then the handshake with Uhuru happened, he said it was for peace, for those who lost their lives and a pact to ensure no more lives were lost.
With the handshake came the BBI, and it was at this time that doctors were striking because they lacked PPEs (it was during covid). There was no money for the doctors, but there was money for BBI. At that point I knew the Raila I learned about in school was not the Raila I was experiencing. He had lived a long life in politics, lived long enough to be that which he fought against. The Gen Z protests made me detest him, for someone who claimed to be pro-people he had a hilarious way of showing it.
I acknowledge that he fought for Kenya, was tortured for Kenya. We have a lot of rights and freedoms because of him. The political landscape has lost a lot. But he became just like the rest of them, a man guided by greed. He was unrecognisable, his reputation/legacy tainted.
Its such a dilemma aki. Thankyou for this honest comment. Things are not always as they seem. You have my respect for forming your own political opinions.
Kenyans are very funny. They will hate a leader but when he dies he is automatically a hero "De mortuis nil nisi bonum" - of the dead speak nothing but good which is bs to me. Yes he fought for this country but he was also the man who burnt everything he fought for. We cannot discredit what he did and we also can't live in the past constantly. He changed and he isn't the leader we once knew.
Or… as is the nature of all political theatres ancient, old and new the man masterfully played his role of the foil and profited insanely from the ruse? For one must surely ask themselves, how could he repeat the same power sharing script with 3 presidents in a row with the same formula down to the last man?
The masterstroke for me is that he was able to exit the stage before the ruse became too glaring to hide much further. Now a new actor needs to be found, or groomed.
There has not been a leader in the current political class who is of Raila's stature: who had experienced the brutality of an oppressive regime like he had. For him to take opportunity of death and dissolution of government positions to put his own people eg Joho back into power shows how cold-blooded he became towards the end. The people who are older than 40 years will remember the freedom fighting that he did and coupled with grief, they will mourn him. However, the people who have existed in a period where Raila has grovelled for second place positions will be relieved that the hand shaker, half loafer could not appeal his death. Raila had the DNA and lived experience to liberate Kenya not only from Ruto but from the colonial clutches. He chose to be prime minister. And to maintain his interests. Even during the protests, the police would remove their barricades, and let him through. Then the would go back to brutalize the people that Raila had mobilised.
I grew up hearing of Raila as this brave leader who fought for Kenya, even read about it in school. So when I was old enough to form my own political opinions (the 2017 elections), I didn't see it, but I decided to give him time. Maybe I didn't understand politics. Then the handshake with Uhuru happened, he said it was for peace, for those who lost their lives and a pact to ensure no more lives were lost.
With the handshake came the BBI, and it was at this time that doctors were striking because they lacked PPEs (it was during covid). There was no money for the doctors, but there was money for BBI. At that point I knew the Raila I learned about in school was not the Raila I was experiencing. He had lived a long life in politics, lived long enough to be that which he fought against. The Gen Z protests made me detest him, for someone who claimed to be pro-people he had a hilarious way of showing it.
I acknowledge that he fought for Kenya, was tortured for Kenya. We have a lot of rights and freedoms because of him. The political landscape has lost a lot. But he became just like the rest of them, a man guided by greed. He was unrecognisable, his reputation/legacy tainted.
Its such a dilemma aki. Thankyou for this honest comment. Things are not always as they seem. You have my respect for forming your own political opinions.
Kenyans are very funny. They will hate a leader but when he dies he is automatically a hero "De mortuis nil nisi bonum" - of the dead speak nothing but good which is bs to me. Yes he fought for this country but he was also the man who burnt everything he fought for. We cannot discredit what he did and we also can't live in the past constantly. He changed and he isn't the leader we once knew.
You're right
Thatcan't stand
They are individuals whose actions hold historical impact. That must reflect on their legacy
Or… as is the nature of all political theatres ancient, old and new the man masterfully played his role of the foil and profited insanely from the ruse? For one must surely ask themselves, how could he repeat the same power sharing script with 3 presidents in a row with the same formula down to the last man?
The masterstroke for me is that he was able to exit the stage before the ruse became too glaring to hide much further. Now a new actor needs to be found, or groomed.
There has not been a leader in the current political class who is of Raila's stature: who had experienced the brutality of an oppressive regime like he had. For him to take opportunity of death and dissolution of government positions to put his own people eg Joho back into power shows how cold-blooded he became towards the end. The people who are older than 40 years will remember the freedom fighting that he did and coupled with grief, they will mourn him. However, the people who have existed in a period where Raila has grovelled for second place positions will be relieved that the hand shaker, half loafer could not appeal his death. Raila had the DNA and lived experience to liberate Kenya not only from Ruto but from the colonial clutches. He chose to be prime minister. And to maintain his interests. Even during the protests, the police would remove their barricades, and let him through. Then the would go back to brutalize the people that Raila had mobilised.
***death of innocent youth and subsequent disillusion of govt.