The six times that Raila Amollo Odinga has attempted to be the president of Kenya are in 1982, 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022.
1982: Bloody Coup d'état
The 1982 Kenyan coup d'état attempt was a failed attempt to overthrow President Daniel arap Moi's government. Raila Odinga and other politicians were charged for financing the organizers.
1997: No beginner's luck
His first attempt was in 1997 when he ran for the presidency on the National Development Party (NDP) ticket. He lost, but actively participated in politics.
In 2001, courtesy of his rapprochement with President Daniel arap Moi, he was appointed as Energy minister. During that time, he was chosen as the Secretary-General of the then-ruling party, KANU after dissolving NDP.
In 1997 President Daniel Moi won election with 2.45 million votes, Mwai Kibaki of Democratic Party, got 1.9 million votes. Raila Odinga garnered 665,000 votes.
In 2002, Raila Odinga did not run for presidency, instead he teamed up with other politicians in endorsing Mwai Kibaki; the famous "Kibaki Tosha" mantra. Mwai Kibaki won with 3.65 million votes in the presidential election, while Uhuru garnered 1.84 million.
Raila was now in government as the Minister for works with his lieutenants rewarded key ministerial positions.
2007: Violence-marred election
The 2007 provisional results of the election had indicated that Raila was in the lead. But the tide seemed to change, when the final results announced by then-electoral board boss Samuel Kivuitu put President Mwai Kibaki in the lead.
Kibaki was declared the winner with 4.58 million votes, against Raila’s 4.35 million votes, a difference of 231,000 votes.
Raila rejected the results, saying they were marred by irregularities.
The dispute lead to post-election violence in which more than 1,000 Kenyans were killed and more than 600,000 displaced.
2013: Third time's a charm?
The March 4, 2013, General Election pitted Raila Odinga against Uhuru Kenyatta. Results placed Uhuru in the lead with 50.07 per cent (6.17 million votes), followed by Raila's 43.31 per cent(5.34 million votes). He filed a petition at the Supreme Court, which upheld Uhuru's victory.
2017: Last bullet?
This contest follows that of the 2013 election, where Raila Odinga ran against Uhuru Kenyatta and the former lost again.
The results of the August 8 polls showed the incumbent President Uhuru had won with 54 per cent (7.7 million votes), and that Raila Odinga came second with 45 per cent (6.3 million votes).
Raila rejected the results and petition Uhuru's win at the Supreme Court of Kenya.
On September 1, the Supreme Court nullified the presidential election outcome, ordering for a repeat polls within 60 days. After the October 26 repeat polls, Uhuru was still declared winner, which Raila and his supporters did not accept, arguing they had boycotted the repeat election.
Kenyatta was, nevertheless, declared the winner with 7.48 million votes, against Raila’s 73,200 votes.
Raila Odinga later swear-in himself as the people's president. Political riots were witnessed in his key strongholds, where his supporters vandalized public and private property.
In March 9, 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta invited Raila Odinga for a famous handshake at Harambee House. From then Raila Odinga was enjoying the fruits of a government he previously attacked.
2022: Final stab?
Previously, it would have been unheard of for some of the Mt. Kenya political bigwigs to support Raila and say “Baba tosha”.
But the tide seems to have turned. Uhuru, who has historically been the thorn in Raila's flesh, was now the wind in his sail.
With the Mount Kenya Foundation, President Uhuru Kenyatta, the deep state, powerful government officials and even the mainstream media owners endorsing Raila's presidency, his official announcement of his fifth attempt at the presidency was all over.
The state machinery financed him and even campaigned for him.
In the August 9 polls, Azimio-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga lost the presidency once again.
As announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chair Wafula Chebukati, the United Democratic Alliance presidential candidate, Dr William Ruto won with 7,176,141 votes while Raila Odinga got 6,942,930 votes.
.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment