Kenya is currently in the season of political defection. Presidential race is intensifying. One of the things that captured Kenyans attention is The Star newspaper cover story which reads, “Gideon ditches OKA, to join Raila ’22 power plan”.
Baringo County Senator Gideon Moi’s father played an important role in the incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta ascending to presidency.
Secondly, politics is about interest and given the close relationship between the Moi and Kenyatta family, it is Gideon who can protect the interest of president Uhuru after retirement.
Photo: Courtesy
If Uhuru is to endorse anyone for presidency, then it is Gideon.
Gideon Moi does not have a name for himself and still riding on his father’s legacy. Gideon Moi is one of the principals of One Kenya Alliance. One Kenya Alliance is not so strong to face both Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto and therefore cannot deliver Gideon the coveted throne.
In politics one of the important thing is number of votes one can get.
The votes from Rift Valley where Gideon hails from, has been locked by William Ruto. Therefore, Gideon’s political matrix is complicated.
The only person who can deliver Gideon to the presidency is Raila Odinga. Due to handshake Gideon and Raila are very close political friends.
Raila is among the few politicians who have lasted for long despite testing defeat in the presidential race severally.
He sets the political pace, he regulates political temperature and he knows how to read and interpret Kenya’s political terrain. His reforms credentials are added advantage to his political ambitions.
David Murathe, a close ally of Mr. Uhuru, the son of Gatuhi Murathe, is also familiar to the powerful individuals who run political shows in shadows.
Murathe asserted that in 2022 Kenyans will have a Mandela moment where Raila will be endorsed by those powerful hands behind the cameras and become the president for one term.
Raila is chosen by the so called “deep state”, because of his age. Next year Raila will be 77 years old, after serving for 5 years he will be around 82 years old. Therefore, he can easily serve for one term and leave the presidency for Gideon Moi in 2027, when Gideon will be politically strong.
Raila being the President will break Kikuyu Kalenjin chain of presidency.
That is why Gideon has been positioning himself around Raila lately.
But when Kenyans or any other person talks of 2022, they should remember there is a political animal from Sungoi who also understands the game.
Anyone underrating Ruto is in for a surprise.
Ruto was deeply involved in Daniel Moi’s presidency in 1992. He was with Moi in 1997. He was with Uhuru Kenyatta in 2002 and he understands why they did not win. He was Raila’s ally in 2007. In 2013 and 2017 he was with Uhuru and understands how the deep state operates.
Despite having state machinery, Raila and Uhuru should know that they are facing someone who also understands the game.
Ruto is a seasoned politician and the only one whose bid is clear.
So many things are unclear at the moment but the most clear thing is that the race is getting hot, it will be interesting to see how things pan out.
