By Anderson Ojwang’
They say politics is dirty, but Kenya’s presidential elections are turning out to be dirtier, with dark secrets which have been kept highly secret beginning to emerge.
In what appears to be self-cannibalism of the once much-talked-about political bromance between the fourth President Uhuru Kenyatta and fifth President William Ruto, the fallout has brought into the open the dark secrets of the past presidential victories.
In the presidential election, one contestant has remained a constant and could be the worst victim of the alleged election, but he stood tall to avoid the country sliding into anarchy.
In life and death, former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga remains Kenya’s hero of all seasons, an enigma to the country’s story and the political lamb, who sacrificed his alleged stolen ‘victories’ for the peace and tranquillity of the nation.
With only 15 days to his first victory, Raila’s spirit may finally come to rest following the revelation of the political class that his victories may have been snatched from him.
Raila quotes
“Kenya is bigger than any one of us.” Said after the disputed 2007 election violence, it showed Raila’s statesmanship and call for peace and reconciliation.
“You cannot rig the will of the people.” Repeated during the 2022 election campaigns, this became a bold declaration of his fight against electoral injustice.
“We shake hands not because we agree, but because we must move forward.” Said in 2018 after his historic handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta, symbolising reconciliation and political maturity.
Letting the cat out of the bag
Recently, Uhuru said he believed Raila won the 2022 presidential election, a statement which in itself is weighty, going by the fact that he was then the President, the first consumer of the country’s intelligence reports.
“Raila won the election. I am convinced he won the presidential elections. I know that, we know, those who want to know, know the truth,” he said.
Uhuru said Azimio La Umoja won the majority of MPs, Senators and governors’ seats against President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza.
“We had more MPs than the coalition. We had more senators and governors than the other coalition. How did we lose this? We know how it went and we do not want to go that route again,” he said.
But Uhuru dismissed Ruto’s claims that he defeated him in the last general election, saying he was not on the ballot.
“Some people say we didn’t win. I believe Raila won the elections. They said they defeated me. Was it not Raila on the ballot? Uhuru was not on the ballot. Why are you dividing the country through the politics of division?” he said.
We respected the Supreme Court
Uhuru said even if they did not agree with the Supreme Court ruling which upheld Ruto’s victory, he presided over a peaceful transfer of power.
“I will speak my truth. After the election and the Supreme Court gave verdict. We did not reject it and in a broad daylight we gave them instrument of power. There was no violence,” he said.
Uhuru wondered why Ruto and his allies kept on abusing and accusing him for their own failures.
“After four years, they keep on saying Uhuru this and that. Were you elected to talk about Uhuru? If it is not working, you must look for object to blame and that is Uhuru Kenyatta. Kenyans know so well.”
Duale’s rebuttal
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale claimed Uhuru sent a team to coerce and force the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman, the late Wafula Chebukati, to alter the results in favour of Raila.
“Recently I saw Uhuru pacing and jumping. Let me tell Uhuru, do not go that route. I want the media to hear this. Uhuru Kenyatta is the person who sent the National Security Advisory Council led by a man called Kihara to Bomas to go and change, and tell Chebukati to alter the will of the people of Kenya,” he said.
He claimed Uhuru tried to coerce and intimidate Chebukati but failed in his plot.
“I know Uhuru and I know you are watching me. Kihara was the deputy to Joseph Kinyua, then Head of Public Service in Uhuru’s administration, to go and coerce, intimidate the late Chebukati to alter the will of the people,” he said.
He claimed that Uhuru was the one behind the IEBC commissioners’ fallout.
“Uhuru Kenyatta, you are the one who used Cherera four to walk out of Bomas so that they alter the results,” he claimed.
Duale said Uhuru was using Raila to plant his brother as a prime minister in the new regime.
“Finally Uhuru Kenyatta, you didn’t want Raila. You brought BBI, the illegal constitutional amendment to create a powerful prime minister for your brother George Muhoho to become a prime minister and undermine Baba in the event Baba won,” he said.
Jubilee party maintains Uhuru’s stand
In a hard-hitting press statement, Jubilee Secretary-General Koitalel Ole Kenta wrote:
“Kenyans are neither blind nor naïve. They remember precisely what happened during the last general elections, and no amount of state-sponsored propaganda, political theatre or pulpit politics will rewrite that history. Kenyans know better.”
Kuria admission of rigging
Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria wrote on his social media platforms:
“I have been involved in all Presidential Elections in Multi Party era. This is how I rate them, 1992- Moi manipulated but won because opposition was divided, 1997- Moi manipulated but won because opposition was divided, 2002- Kibaki won free and fair, 2007- Baba won, 2013- Baba won, 2017- Uhuru Kenyatta won. Maraga ruling was on technicalities, 2022- William Ruto won, Ni hayo tu kwa sasa”.
What the media reported
2017
In 2017, the Supreme Court nullified the election of Uhuru, but he won the repeat election after Raila boycotted the exercise.
Al Jazeera on 6th August 2017 wrote: “Opposition leader Raila Odinga has warned against rigging the result of the general election, just two days before Kenyans cast their votes.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, the former Kenyan prime minister said his party has put in place efforts to stop an alleged plot to tamper with results.
“There are attempts to manipulate the results,” Odinga said. “The only way Jubilee can win this election is by rigging.
“They have no other way. We are more than confident that we are going to get a decisive victory on Tuesday.”
The Star Newspaper in January 22nd 2019 wrote: “NASA leader Raila Odinga has noted he is not “power-hungry” but part of a team that will end electoral rigging in Africa.
Raila insisted that the Opposition and its supporters will not allow President Uhuru Kenyatta’s October 26 re-election to stand.
This, he said, is on grounds it sets a bad example for future generations.
“Raila Odinga is not power-hungry. I want to see democracy properly established in our country. Currently, we have autocracy where elections are just a ritual incumbents do after every five years,” he said in an interview with Al Jazeera.”
2013 election
Voice of America wrote: “Kenyan prime minister and presidential candidate Raila Odinga has accused government officials of using their influence to support his rivals. The prime minister’s campaign claimed there is a wider scheme to rig Kenya’s presidential election on March 4.
Speaking to reporters at a Nairobi airport Thursday, Odinga said the head of civil service, Francis Kimemia, has been working behind the scenes to support his political rivals in the Jubilee Coalition.
“That the current head of public service has basically become an activist of a political party,” said Odinga. “He is the one who is recruiting and funding the campaigns of the other side.”**
Odinga’s campaign team has accused Kimemia and other government officials of giving instructions to district officers to rally support for Jubilee, commit electoral fraud and to suppress voter turnout in Odinga strongholds.
Into the future
Now that the cat is out of the bag, the electoral body, state organs and Kenyans will be watching closely any incidence of rigging. The 2027 General Election may just be a replica of 2022.
