11/01/2015
WHAT THE DEATH OF FIDEL CASTRO MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF KENYA
For over 60 years, the Odinga family has dominated the opposition politics in Kenya. First it was the doyen of opposition politics, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who came very close to being the president but never did it. As a matter of fact, just before he died, he had publicly asked the then president, Daniel Toroitich arap Moi, to allow him be president for just one day. As fate would have it, death caught up with him before the presidency did.
Then came Raila Amolo Odinga, who, like his father, has almost faced the same fate in his pursuit of the highest political office in the land. Like his father, he has pursued a communist agenda which has not always gone down well with the majority capitalists in power. Well, Raila is not dead yet. And maybe, just maybe, the death of his son Fidel will help propel him to the office of the president in 2017. If he misses this, then he will go like his father. History will always say he came too close yet was so far.
Raila's political inheritor, Fidel Castro Odhiambo Makarios Odinga, was laid to rest next to his grandfather, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, only yesterday after he died under unclear circumstances last week. Whether his death was calculated to put a nail in the domination of the Odinga family on the political scene cannot be wished away. Fidel had an eye on the Kibra parliamentary seat, previously held by his father. Of course there could be people who might not have been comfortable with another Odinga coming into politics, knowing the headache that the Odingas, mainly Jaramogi and Raila have caused to the powers that be in the past. But this is just hypathetical.
All the same, history will be fair to this family, for they have almost single-handedly fought against the excesses of the executive for a long time. Most of the political freedoms in Kenya today would not have been achieved if it was not for the active participation of the Odinga family.
As Fidel Odinga joins his grandfather in the land of no return, we remain to see who will replace him as the defacto king of the political hotbed which is the Luo nation.
Rest in peace Fidel Castro Odhiambo Makarios Odinga.
www.tsu.co/Lukorito/27458469