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Hon. Raila Odinga and the current President William Ruto suffered a broad day light robbery of their hard-earned votes in 2007 and it was so painful. So painful todate.
Raila, helped by the current president William Ruto, staged a very successful campaign against the then president Mwai Kibaki whom they had also helped in 2002 to win power against the long dictatorial rule of Daniel Moi.
When Odinga helped Kibaki take power in 2007, Kibaki, immediately, turned against him and, sadly, left Raila in the cold. It was a very painful experience for Raila. A man who stood with Kibaki on a wheel chair until Kibaki was sworn in. In fact, history tells us that he was Mr. Odinga who wheeled Kibaki to hospital following the tragic accident.
And in 2007, helped by determined William Ruto, Raila had to prove to Kibaki that he was the one who made him president. And as SK Macharia stated, Odinga beat Kibaki by a whooping vote difference of 1.8 millions. Actually, I was a live and had even completed my form four. I didn’t participate in the exercise but I vividly remember everything.
During the tallying process, Kibaki had an early lead because of Murima tribal voting. He was happy that he had beaten Odinga. The celebrations were short lived. Didn’t know what hit him. By noon the same day, numbers from Odinga’s voting blocs – Nyanza, Coast, Western, North Eastern etc started streaming in and by 4PM the same day, Kibaki started seeing bad things. Odinga, helped by Ruto, turned the tables upside down. ODM took a lead and the vote difference started bulging wide. Kikiyus started trembling all over. Unbelievable!
Martha Karua was by then our Constitutional Minister. She went to Kibaki helped by other Mt. Kenya oligarch to bungle elections. They would take control of Samuel Kivuitu who was by then the then elections chair. Kivuitu had to announce Kibaki who would later be sworn in as the president, at night.
The illegal swearing-in event was held at the Statehouse at night supported by Martha Karua. That time, the old Constitution allowed announcement of results and an immediate swearing in exercise. The two things could happen in a single day. Kibaki helped by Karua took advantage of the loophole to rob the country it’s true leadership.
Ms Karua and her straight face has never wanted to admit her role in the voter theft of 2007. Though guilty, she still tells the media that, as far as she is concerned, Kibaki won the presidential election. But back in her mind, she knows Odinga and Ruto, through their Pentagon, had beaten them hands-down.
As a result of that, Baba Jimmy would remain the president of Kenya as Post Election Violence erupted across the country. People started slaughtering each other on roads and blood was all over. It was massacre across.
The war, immediately, caught the attention of the entire world and Koffi Annan prevailed upon Raila Odinga to calm the heat.
And this was the birth of the Grand Coalition government through a power-sharing pact in which Odinga was sworn in as Kenya’s Prime Minister. Kibaki who stole the election would continue being our president. A president who never won any election. Interestingly, Karma never goes wrong, Ms Karua’s life in government also became the shortest ever. She had to part ways with Kibaki’s administration. Things fell apart so fast. It was very fast!
Two days ago, media mogul SK Macharia revealed to the Kikuyus that Raila had beaten Kibaki by 1.8M votes.
And this, therefore, brings us to the conclusion that Raila and Ruto endured this pain together. Allow them to, atleast, enjoy this presidency together.
Highly-likely, the two are strong when they team up and this can help them retain power for a long time. If they happen to let it go away, it will be impossible for any other Kenyan to take it from Kikuyus again.
Job well done Mr. Ruto. God works differently.
