The appointment of four prominent members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to the Cabinet of President William Ruto marks a critical juncture in Kenyan politics, provoking both fervent critique and rigorous analysis. This development, though ostensibly straightforward, reveals profound undercurrents of ethnic struggle and political strategy reminiscent of dialectic materialism.
Raila Odinga, the leader of ODM and the Azimio coalition, has distanced himself from the appointments of Wycliffe Oparanya (Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development), John Mbadi (National Treasury and Economic Planning), Hassan Joho (Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs), and Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum). Raila has unequivocally stated that these individuals joined the Cabinet at their own volition and not at the behest of ODM.
Furthermore, ODM Secretary General Lawrence Sifuna has reinforced this stance, declaring that there exists no legal coalition agreement with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), and that ODM’s manifesto remains unharmonized with UDA’s policies, a move which could have facilitated an implementable agenda in a coalition government. The party’s position is that the four appointees are on their own, and that ODM remains staunchly in the opposition.
Odinga’s History of “Political Entrism”: Moi/KANU’s 24 Years of Dictatorship Ended
Despite these unequivocally articulated positions, boldly declared in official statements and emphatically reiterated at news conferences, Raila’s critics persist in their relentless tirades, accusing the ODM leader of having “sold the struggle,” “betrayed the Gen Z Movement,” “sold-out his soul,” and committed every conceivable offense in the annals of revolutionary transgressions. Their dramatic denunciations, rife with hyperbole, paint a picture of grand betrayal worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy, all while conveniently ignoring the complexities of political strategy and the historical context that presents itself.
Within this swirling tempest of accusations against Odinga, one must peer through the fog of impulsive denunciations to grasp the profound tactical strategy at play. Odinga’s political maneuvers are akin to the artful deployment of political entrism, wherein radical elements infiltrate mainstream organizations to subvert and transform them from within.
This is no novice strategy for Odinga; recall his audacious infiltration of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) in 2002, a strategic move that destabilized the KANU beast, led to its defeat at the polls, and birthed the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) which brought former President Mwai Kibaki to power. This seismic shift ended KANU’s 24-year authoritarian reign and ushered in a new democratic dawn. Curiously, back then, the “guardians of the revolution” did not wield their righteous indignation with the same fervor and zeal, overlooking how Odinga’s National Development Party (NDP) was absorbed into KANU, without the cacophony of betrayal accusations now being so liberally dispensed.
Infiltrating Power Structures For Subversion and Transformation From Within
Without appearing to hold brief for Raila Odinga, to lambast him now as a “turn-coat” exposes a myopic understanding of his historical role in Kenya’s political struggle. The current appointments should be viewed through the prism of Kenya’s ethnic-based politics and the ongoing quest for political reform within the context of the National Democratic Revolution. Odinga’s perennial haters, seasonal revolutionaries, TikTok activists and arm-chair intellectuals ensconced in their privileged ignorance, fail to recognize the strategic depth of Odinga’s actions. His historical credentials—facilitating the demise of Moi’s KANU regime, leading the revolution that abolished the colonial constitution in 2010, and his subsequent electoral battles—stand as testament to his unwavering commitment to the cause of the oppressed people of Kenya. This reality cannot be washed away and is part of Kenya’s history.
The intricate ballet of ethnic politics in Kenya demands nothing less than a masterstroke of sophisticated strategy, one that occasionally requires an embrace of power structures to subvert and transform them from within. The recent appointment of ODM members to the Cabinet, far from being a meek surrender, should be seen as a cunning tactical maneuver, artfully leveraging the entrenched political infrastructure to propel reformist aims forward. This, dear critics, is the quintessence of the tactic of “political entrism”—seizing pivotal positions of influence within a dominant organization/party to deftly steer its policies and direction toward the radical agenda. Instead of a simplistic narrative of capitulation, it is a nuanced game of political acrobatics played on the grand stage of national politics.
Moreover, the conditions set by ODM for any potential talks with UDA underscore the party’s commitment to holding the government accountable. These conditions—compensation for victims of government actions, the release of detained Gen Z protestors, and the dropping of charges against them—reflect a continued opposition to the repressive tactics of the UDA ruling class. They are demands rooted in the defense of the protestors against unacceptable state violence and repression. Conveniently, Raila haters have unabashedly ignored these conditions. Why?
Odinga Won Presidential Election After Infiltrating Jubilee via the Handshake
The current outcry against Odinga is emblematic of a superficial understanding of ruling class political conspiracies in an ethnic political environment devoid of clear ideological positions. Raila’s critics should recall that even after his controversial handshake with Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018, which many derided as a betrayal, Odinga remained a formidable political force. His influence and support base endured, culminating in victory of the presidential contest in the 2022 elections which was later stolen through imperialist conspiracies. His “handshake” with Uhuru Kenyatta did not deter him from commanding majority support to win the 2022 election. In fact, millions of Kenyans who vilified him in the beginning voted for him.
In the final analysis, Odinga’s political trajectory exemplifies the dialectical process of revolutionary change—one that is fraught with contradictions, strategic alliances, and the ever-present tension between reform and revolution. To understand his actions merely as betrayals is to ignore the complex interplay of ethnic forces in the situation and the strategic imperatives that have historically defined revolutionary/reformist praxis. It is imperative that the audience view Odinga’s maneuvers through a broader lens, recognizing the potential for radical transformation inherent in his political strategy.
Even if the appointment of the four ODM leaders were to be interpreted as having been sanctioned by Raila Odinga for self gain, similar entrist strategies in the past led to outcomes that benefited the oppressed people of Kenya. In 2002, a dictator and his party was dethroned from power. In 2007, his entrist strategy through nusu mukate largely prevented and exposed the excesses of the Mount Kenya mafia which was in charge of government, much to the benefit of millions of Kenyans. In 2010 (after nusu mukate), the colonial Constitution was abolished and a New Constitution was promulgated. In 2022, the handshake led to Odinga’s victory and if his presidency was not stolen, Kenyans could probably not have been grappling with the monstrous Finance Bill.
Okoth Osewe
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Asante Ndugu. The article is a very insightful analysis of contemporary politics in Kenya. It is a great read.