The biggest mistake of Raila's life.

 From the perspective of opposition leader Raila Odinga, it's likely that he harbors one massive regret—one that will continue to haunt him. For many years, especially as he faces the 2017 presidential elections, this event remains excess baggage. It casts doubt on his character and his potential presidency. I am referring to the events of August 1, 1982—the attempted coup in Kenya. This was the first serious attempt at a coup in the country's history, and as the events unfolded and the coup was thwarted, many Kenyans lost their lives. In the aftermath, it became clear that one of the key figures behind the coup attempt was Raila Odinga, which continues to fuel skepticism among powerful figures about his ability to lead.

Now, what actually happened during that coup? To be honest, there are still many mysteries surrounding it, including who the true mastermind was. In my book Dark Secrets of the Kenyan Presidency, we delve into this topic in depth and reveal that, in fact, a civilian was behind the coup. Raila was part of a group that sought to preemptively act against the coup, which had been planned for a few days later. If they had waited, many experts believe the coup might have succeeded and Kenya could have seen a change in leadership. However, I believe that Kenya's destiny was in God's hands, as the events played out as they did, preventing what could have been a catastrophic outcome.

Despite his role in attempting to overthrow the government, Raila survived, though the act of treason usually warrants the death penalty. How did he manage to avoid this? The answer to this question, and many more, can be found in my book. There is much more to this story that I can't cover in a brief recording, but it's clear that this incident remains a dark mark on Raila's career. Despite his many contributions to Kenya, his sacrifices, and his role in the struggle for the Second Liberation, this single event continues to be used by his opponents against him.

One might dismiss this as the rashness of a young and hot-headed Raila, similar to his father, who opposed Jomo Kenyatta's presidency and sought to disrupt the status quo. Raila's attempt to overthrow Moi's government was, in some ways, motivated by a similar drive for change. At that time, Moi's government was far more lenient than Kenyatta's, and the coup was a result of this perceived weakness. The rest, as they say, is history.

Looking ahead to the 2017 elections, this issue is likely to be raised again. Opponents will use it as ammunition, arguing that Raila, who once tried to violently overthrow the government, should not be president. I'll cover this topic in more detail in future recordings, but for now, we can only wait and see how Raila's past will be used against him. One thing is certain: the attempted coup of 1982 will remain a defining issue for his opponents.