Former ODM official reveals how Raila Odinga was once deserted after losing an election
Former ODM official, Wafula Buke has revealed how Raila Odinga was once deserted by his close allies after losing an election.
Former Orange Democratic Movement’s director for political affairs and strategy, Wafula Buke says Azimio leader Raila Odinga has not once been betrayed and deserted after losing elections.
Wafula Buke was speaking in response to Raila’s allies who have since defected to President-elect William Ruto’s camp after IEBC announced him the winner of the 2022 General Election.
Among the leaders who joined Ruto’s camp were United Democratic Movement (UDM) party leader Ali Roba and outgoing Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana.
The former ODM official said the Azimio leader is familiar with betrayal and has always come out stronger after losing elections.
Buke recalled in 2013 and 2017 when the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was rejected and betrayed by his close allies after losing the polls.
His Capital Hill office in Nairobi, which has always been characterized by a beehive of activities, never had visitors for quite some time.
Wafula Buke claims that when Raila was defeated by President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2013 presidential election, nobody wanted to be associated with him.
Despite Raila’s party winning the majority of seats in every elective post, even his closest allies turned against him.
“When Raila failed to get the presidency in 2013, he read more, thought more in his office but also got lonely. One time he went to the reception and inquired – ‘You mean there is nobody who wants to see me?’,” Buke, who stood by Raila recalled.
He also said that Raila had previously visited Kilifi but that the governor at the time, Amason Kingi, allegedly never met with him.
The former Prime Minister reportedly once again fell victim to a round of rejections after losing to Uhuru in 2017.
Buke asserted that his associates wished for him to go and retire.
“In fact, most elected leaders from his stronghold abandoned him and wanted him to hang his boots so that they could get salaries. He told me that this was one of the reasons why he had to change tact,” Buke narrated.
In front of the camera, Raila was backed by an army of loyal supporters, but behind the scenes, he was riding solo.
According to Buke, the handshake with President Uhuru helped him cope with the betrayal and lonely moments.
A veteran Tourism Industry expert Ronny Raburu also took Raila on a short vacation in Tanzania.
“Mzee stood for about an hour and a half reading some German writings on the wall at a museum. I got tired standing with him so I sat as he read on,” Buke recalled.
As Raila was being driven around Tanzania, his driver was flagged for flouting traffic rules but the police, on noticing Raila, suspended the violation.
Buke believes that Raila still has political muscles to influence the electorates.
He thus warned his allies who have started shifting allegiance after Ruto was declared the President-elect.
Also read,
Raila-Karua affidavits at Supreme Court detail how IEBC bungled the election way before voting day
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