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Railaphobia among the Kikuyu has no scientific basis. It is borne of GUILT AND ETHNIC SELF CENTREDNESS. My sequel on Railaphobia – LONG THREAD, FREE TO DISCARD
In the 1997 elections, Kibaki and Raila were the main candidates. They could not agree on a joint ticket and they both divided opposition votes losing to Moi who won with a minority vote. Kibaki’s court case challenging the results was dismissed on a technicality.
Raila went ahead to “cooperate” with Moi and landed a ministerial post. He had hoped to ascend to bigger things through Kanu. But Moi anointed Uhuru whom he wanted to succeed him. Raila bolted and threw weight behind Kibaki with the famous “Kibaki tosha” endorsement
Whether the alliance was headed for victory and Raila “merely” energized is irrelevant. He brought in much-needed gravitas leading to victory. When Kibaki visited Nyeri for the first time as President, Raila was not a speaker. The people demanded that the "NJAMBA" address them.
So far there is no trace of Railaphobia. "I personally can vouch for the fact that Raila Odinga was the most energetic campaigner for Kibaki in the 2002 election campaign," Writes one of Kibaki’s top aide: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/politics/article/2000130748/book-lays-bare-kibaki-raila-political-duels#
Kibaki reneged on their MOU with Raila.
Wanjuis book: “KIBAKI SHOULD HAVE HONOURED THE DEAL TO NAME RAILA PREMIER, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD HAVE ERODED THE PRESIDENT'S POWERS, IT WOULD ALSO HAVE ENSURED THE STABILITY OF NARC AND KENYA’S POLITICS”
Wanjuis book: “KIBAKI SHOULD HAVE HONOURED THE DEAL TO NAME RAILA PREMIER, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD HAVE ERODED THE PRESIDENT'S POWERS, IT WOULD ALSO HAVE ENSURED THE STABILITY OF NARC AND KENYA’S POLITICS”
This led to a fallout marked by the defeat of the referendum in 2005. The bitterness reached the zenith in 2007 PEV. Raila was Kibaki’s closest challenger, the final tallying was shrouded in controversy, and Kibaki was sworn in at night to preempt legal challenge.
The ensuring crisis resulted in a coalition government in which Raila served as the PM. This is where Raila and Central Kenya's problems begin. Back in 2003, Kijana Wamalwa had coined the choice anecdote of Railaphilia and Railaphobia. Which was ominously true
NARC was experiencing turbulence. Because the conservative Kikuyu wing feared that Raila might seek more clout in their government given the important role he had played in its victory. While others loved Raila for his tireless campaign into victory, wanted him in better tidings
Hence, those who loved Raila went to the extreme - Railaphilia and opposite to those who feared him-Railaphobia for those who feared him. Look no further. Railaphobia has roots in Kibaki Presidency. And it is about Kikuyu’s selfishness and conservatism. Let us see more.
After the 2002 campaign, and after crowing Raila NJAMBA in Nyeri, the Kikuyu all of a sudden hated Raila’s ambition – the very ambition he had used to weaken and kill Kanu in favour of Kibaki. They wanted Kibaki to have unfettered state powers and even encouraged betrayal of MOU
Like a lady who resists seduction. As soon as she succumbs, she doesn’t want the man to see and admire women anymore. The very qualities that brought them together, she wants it all to come to an end. Raila was now an enemy because he is ambitious.
In the book, OUR TIME TO EAT by Michela Wrong, @johngithongo gives a hint of it. When one of the powerful ministers under Kibaki, who was a leading advocate of multi-party, was openly expressing disdain for “these Jaluos” – demanding more involvement in Kibaki government
In other words, Mt Kenya people wanted Raila to contain his ambition once Kibaki came to power. Having been short-changed in the MOU, Raila did not have any obligations to support Kibaki, who unfortunately was rather indisposed. His deputy later died leaving Kibakis gvt very weak
In 2007, Raila nearly made Kibaki a one-time president. The Kikuyu wanted the argument that the “economy was doing well” to be a basis against opposition to Kibaki. Which of course is a stupid understanding of politics. Who said somebody else could not do better?
The subsequent crisis that saw Raila serve in the Kibaki government, the ensuing wrangles in the coalition, made Kikuyu resent Raila further. Since suffering a stroke in 2003, Kibaki’s personality was heavily weakened and faculty of speech totally compromised.
Kikuyus sympathised with Kibaki at the expense of Raila. They accused Raila of sabotaging “economic miracles” of Kibaki. The sentiment spread around that Kibaki would have done much better - were it not kusumbuliwa na Raila. Nobody was ready to look at weaknesses of Kibaki gvt
But most important, it severely hurt the Kikuyu ego that Raila served in Kibaki’s government. They did not see the power vacuum that brought this about. They did not see that Kibaki’s compromised sense of judgment nearly cost the Kenyan nation. Raila was perfect scapegoat
Raila was now subject of hate: HE IS AMBITIOUS, HE IS POWER HUNGRY; THEIR PEOPLE ARE NOT (EVEN) CIRCUMCISED; HE EVEN WANTED TO THROW OUT MOI; HE IS LIKE HIS FATHER WHO WAS A THORN IN THE FLESH OF JOMO’S GOVERNMENT. All that BS to justify HATRED
These stories spread in Kikuyuland. But they are not about Raila. They are about Kikuyu self-centredness. Railaphobia is actually borne of guilt. Guilt of betrayal - A community that has ridden on the back of sacrifices of another, but has to look for a way to rationalize it
There you are. Railaphobia has no scientific basis. Without science sets in contradictions. No matter the many contradictions besetting the politics of the Kikuyu nation. In the next thread, I elucidate these contradictions and their political implications.
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