How the fake owners of Kenya have used and misused Raila Odinga...

 It has now become a pattern in Kenya. Whenever there’s a crisis or mass action, people look to one man: Raila Odinga. He’s often seen as the one who can calm the situation, negotiate a handshake, or broker peace, allowing the country to continue as it always has. This has been the story in Kenya. However, this time around, that approach may not work.

The shocking announcement this morning from Raila Odinga himself—that he is involved in a six-day dialogue with the regime—has angered a large segment of the Kenyan population. Many Kenyans, particularly the youth, have made it clear that they want no part of these talks. This reaction is telling, and it shows early on where these talks may be headed.

Let’s start from the beginning. It was announced today that President Ruto would sign the IBC Bill, which will allow for the appointment of new commissioners and make the IBC functional again. The interesting thing about this bill is that it has been gathering dust at State House, unsigned, until now. Normally, such bills are signed in private, deep inside State House, behind closed doors, especially when they are seen as draconian measures that disadvantage Kenyans. But today, this bill was signed with great fanfare at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. That’s not all; the bill has its own story.

After the NDC (National Dialogue Committee) talks, which were supposed to address the issues raised by the protests, it became clear that the government was not taking them seriously. Even after those talks, Raila Odinga and his team had to threaten the government: “Don’t change anything in the NDC report.” There was a lot of push and pull, mainly due to the lack of goodwill on one side. This brings us to today’s announcement by Raila Odinga: more talks, this time with the same government that ignored the previous dialogue.

And there’s more. Many Kenyans have pointed out that the current crisis does not need more dialogue. Issues like corruption, tribal appointments, and misgovernance are not matters that can be solved through dialogue. This is why many are baffled by the purpose of these new talks.

As regulars on this channel will know, I have great respect for Raila Odinga. People have often labeled me a “Raila sycophant,” but that’s not true. I simply respect him for the sacrifices he has made for a better Kenya. He deserves respect. However, with all due respect, Raila Odinga, this time we need to proceed with caution. There’s a real risk that soon we might hear calls for Raila to step down. This is a serious issue, and anyone who thinks otherwise is not facing the reality on the ground.

The National Dialogue Talks, which led to the signing of the IBC Bill today, in my opinion, are a separate issue from the ongoing crisis in Kenya. In my view, Raila should have met with Ruto as the Bill was signed, and the matter should have ended there. Instead, someone thought it was a good idea to announce the National Multisectoral Forum talks at the same time—Ruto’s pet project. This has muddied the waters.

The IEBC Bill, which came at a high cost (with lives lost during the protests that led to the NDC talks), has now been overshadowed by the announcement of further dialogue talks. Even Eugene Wamalwa, a key member of Azimio, is opposed to these talks. G. Manara, one of the heroes of Kenya’s second liberation, has called these talks a “trap.” And he’s right.

The Genz (Generation Z) are not interested in this dialogue. They’re smarter than the government realizes. They are not looking for a seat at the high table or recognition. Many government leaders seem to believe that the Genz can be manipulated into identifying their leaders and participating in these talks, but that’s unlikely to happen. The Genz are more selfless than the government seems willing to acknowledge.

For those in power, it’s hard to imagine that there are Kenyans, even young ones, who are not driven by selfish motives or the desire for power. We’ve seen how many politicians in Kenya are obsessed with their positions in the pecking order. But the Genz have shown time and again that they care about the long-term good of the country, not their personal gain. This is a reality that is difficult for many to accept, but it’s there, staring us in the face.

What is most disappointing is that Raila Odinga, a man who has fought so hard for Kenya, is involved in something like this. Many Kenyans are struggling to digest the events of this morning,