Kangema pre-election and Raila candidate

 Raila and central Kenya votes  would probably be reflected well by the recently concluded by-elections. Kangema seats, hitherto held by the Party of National Unity (PNU).  Raila supported the Mkenya solidarity party candidate who only managed to get 400 votes while TNA’s (Uhuru candidate) Tiras Ngahu had 13,762 votes ahead of United Democratic Forum’s Simon Mwangi with 2,981 and Saba Saba Asili’s Muturi Kigano with 2,801, after results from all the 47 polling stations were announced.  It is clear that Raila presidency has a problem selling in Central Kenya. The question still remain, whey are Central Kenyans just like Luo Nyanza voters feel secure with their own?? 

Raila and central Kenya politics

Raila Odinga is a leader who deserve so much respect. Raila is not a new comer in Kenya politics as he has been there since the days of Nyayo. Raila played a very important role in fostering multiparty and later Mageuzi journey that saw Kenya get a good constitution some few years ago. Raila deserve the "godfather of Kenya politics" term  for his role in ending Nyayo rule, that jogoo was strong but the tractor was powerful.

Having watched Raila transformation from the days of Ford Kenya, NDP, Kanu, LDP, NARC and now ODM i can confidently say that Agwambo is worth a shot, Rao as the young Kenyans commonly call him will make the best President in this great country that has been turned to a den of corruption and petty politics.

Central Kenya and Raila

Raila is a big friend to the people of central Kenya and he is even a "Muthoniwa" . During the multiparty era Raila Odinga fought alongside Charles Rubia, Stanley Njindo Matiba, Kimani wa Nyoike, Paul Muite among other central Kenya leaders who wanted an end to the one party rule. 

Raila role in crowning Mwai Kibaki as the president in 2002 shows that the son of Jaromogi has never been tribal. When Raila said Kibaki tosha, the Luo Nyanza voted Kibaki in their thousands if not millions. I remember Raila words after baba jimmy was involved in a road accident, " Rolando ameumia lakini mpira lazima uendelee". I actually noted that Central Kenya Kiambu preferred their Own Uhuru Kenyatta over the North Chania river Mwai Kibaki. Kiambu was a Kanu zone with only Mr Paul Muite in Safina which supported a Pnu president. Raila has done tremendously well and there is no reason that the house of Mumbi and Gikuyu should not consider him for President. Every anti-tribal Kenyan want to see Central Kenya crown the Muthoniwa just like the way he did in 2002. 

Should Raila Trust central Kenya?

Let us look at some past events that might answer whether Raila should trust central Kenya voters, Hopefully the past doesn't become the future.

 In 1992 general election, central Kenya preferred their own Stanley Njindo Matiba over Moi and Jaromogi. Jaromogi candidature was not very well welcomed in central Kenya and only 1% (10,765) preferred him. Matiba had a 60% ,while Kibaki and Moi had 36.1% and 2.2% respectively. 

In 1997 general election 89.4% (891,484)  of central Kenya preferred their own Mwai Kibaki on a Dp ticket. Raila Odinga managed to get a 0.7% (3,058) of the votes in central Kenya. Raila candidature on NDP ticket was not welcomed very well. Nothing probably tell it better than Limuru constituency where Mr George Nyanja was elected on NDP ticket and even had more votes in Limuru alone than what Raila Odinga got in the whole Central Kenya.

In 2002 Raila supported Mwai Kibaki on a Narc ticket , Kibaki swept Nyanza province with a good 61.3%  votes, Kibaki had a 68.9% votes in Central Kenya. This figures are very interesting in fighting tribalism across Kenya.

In 2007 general election Raila Odinga running on ODM ticket  managed to get a 1.9% (34,046) while majority of central Kenya preferred their own Mwai Kibaki with a 97.0% (1,741,086). Nyanza preferred Raila with a 82.4% (1,280,978) over Kibaki who got a 16.9% (262,627)

Raila and Central Kenya in 2013

Raila should keep on trying to get the central Kenya votes. As a reformist i think he stand a chance. Central Kenya is a tricky field and those he associate in the region might make or break Raila candidature in Mt. Kenya region. I would advice Raila to only trust those he fought alongside with during the days of Mapinduzi.  

Based on the above figures, it is apparent that Raila popularity in Central Kenya is growing very slowly. Central Kenya population has always preferred their own unless they change in 2013.

 Kenya is a democratic country and people have the right to elect leaders who they want, should we call central Kenya residents because of preferring their own? 

Kenyans should vote leaders that can foster development across Kenya. Tribal politics should not be encouraged. 

Jamuhuri believes in  new Kenya that our forefathers wanted,  A Kenya that Tom mboya and Pio Gama Pinto wouldn't be ashamed of. A Kenya that JM and Ouko would feel proud of. A Kenya that all Kenyans are Kenyan first and more so a Kenya that the future generations will enjoy living in.