KENYA is no stranger to political betrayals.
In fact, duplicity in political parties is not just a pattern—it is an art form and an inherent skill.
Political players have mastered it like seasoned painters, brushing out anyone who dares to disrupt the perfect portrait of their power.
Often, we must deliberately revisit and document historical accounts because younger generations are consumed by pop culture and new media trends, oblivious to the past.
No one is helping them understand Kenya’s political journey or what transpired in earlier years, especially regarding political development.
History reveals that by 1990, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga had already decided to chart his own political path.
As the urgency to remove the former regime grew, it is recorded that Paul Muite invited Matiba and Rubia to his house to discuss forming an alliance with Jaramogi to face incumbent Daniel Moi.
They later invited Bishop Okullu and Joab Omino to inform them of this idea.
Eventually, it was decided that Jaramogi should be included and possibly made the joint presidential candidate after constitutional reforms—without his knowledge.
Fast forward: Rubia and Matiba met Jaramogi at his private office at Agip House. Initially sceptical of their intentions, Jaramogi reportedly asked after hearing them out: “I am not opposed to a partnership. But do you remember how our first marriage ended?”
This was a reference to the colonial and post-independence political partnership that ended in betrayal.
Now, history seemed poised to repeat itself.
Today, Rigathi Gachagua and others are beckoning Raila Odinga to join their bandwagon in a bid to oust President Ruto and make him a one-term president.
However, scepticism abounds regarding the sincerity of this engagement given recent betrayals.
Politics is not straightforward; it is convoluted—a long-winding con game played by veterans.
It is an art of the impossible and a cocktail of negative virtues.
The more deceitful and cunning it is, the more intriguing it gets.
Ethnic manoeuvring continues to shape Kenya’s politics as it did during post-independence.
Divisions among opposition leaders ahead of the 1992 general election handed President Moi another term on a silver platter.
History repeats itself as Raila now stands at another critical juncture in Kenya’s political arena.
Both Ruto’s camp and Gachagua’s faction seek Raila’s vote-rich Nyanza region for leverage.
The writer is a Communication lecturer and researcher
