By Geo Nalugala
Do you all remember Barack Obama “gatecrashing” the Democratic Party in 2004 during the Convention to nominate Candidate John Kerry for President? He took his chance and rewrote history.
That is what Hon. Ali Hassan Joho has done. He now has the positive wind on his back. It has filled his sail, and he is just the biggest thing around today. If he rides it well, he gets State House in 2022.
Unlike Mr. Ruto, who must definitely face Mt. Kenya rebellion in the near future, and who has hardened enemies everywhere, Governor 001 can only have real enemies AFTER 2022.
Before that he will have goodwill from Turkana to Amboseli, Lwakhakha to Lamu and Wajir.
Time and again, people love a new hero. Ruto and Uhuru are stale. Joho is the new celebrity politician. He has it all, and like Ruto keeps shouting to praise himself, he has agreed to be led. Plus, he has balls of steel.
Now, try to find Musalia Mudavadi or Ababu Namwamba in that landscape. They are nowhere, and must beg to be breastfed. Who would buy the lazy, endorsement-seeking Mudavadi, or wife-guided crybaby Namwamba, when they can have the brave, committed and tested Joho for free?
Kenyans will not breastfeed them beggars. Joho says he does not need envelopes, he can feed himself! Now, can we talk issues, please?
If he was serious about change, and he is a keen strategist, Ababu must abandon everything, and swallow his pride. He should let Joho rehabilitate him back into the ODM hearts. It will be quick and painless. Then Ababu can run ODM in Joho’s freer corner, just like he wanted.
That will please Joho.
Definitely, 001 will want deft hands all over the country: intelligent, suave, modern, strong and committed change makers who will be pillars for his disruptive burst to the national stage.
It will please Raila immensely. Because it will strengthen the shifting wind, and pull the youth in his direction; youth who – have been cheated by Ruto and Uhuru, and who – trust Ababu’s intelligence combined with Joho’s commitment to action.
It will solidify the Western vote more for ODM, and, it will resurrect Ababu’s career.
Voters love contrite hearts. They will forgive Ababu and reward him.
Something to note: today, Raila Odinga cannot fight Joho. Both men will lose their dreams.
Raila would lose the youthful vigour, swagger and volcanic magnetism that the Joho tsunami is bringing to ODM going forward. He might lose the goodwill, trust and support of at least 2 million young people.
This ODM with Joho in the engine room is a remarkably different ODM. Raila Odinga might be the most valuable person on board, but he is just another passenger aboard the Joho Tsunami. This ship has its own vital and vigorous soul.
ODM’s strongest horses have bolted forward together already. Even Raila cannot alight at this speed. And, why should he alight or slow down, when this speed is what he has been crying for?
He wanted a thoroughbred stud horse. Joho has delivered it.
A war would cost Joho his 2022 dreams, by blocking him out of Raila Odinga’s bastions. Although he has time on his side, he would begin on a weak footing. So, Joho is in no mood for such. Here are two men joined at the hip.
Any intelligent strategist should join ODM and support Raila through Joho. That is a sure way to counterbalance and defeat out the Luo tribal ticks that have hang onto Raila Odinga and messed his chances before.
Through Joho, a window has opened for the alternative, organized, democratic and Kenya wide ODM to reshape the party in a national DNA.
If Ababu and his friends were right about the suffocation by Luos around Jakom, this is their chance to come back and do the right things within. Brother Ababu, pick this and run with it. Don’t say you were never sure.
Do not doubt. Do not delay. Do not hesitate. Do it right this week. Why you? Because opportunity meets preparedness. Right in your 40 day desert, this door opens. Do not scorn the gods who have dealt you this hand.
Then, in 2022, ODM will have a true Pentagon, again.
Unless the likes of Ababu were not serious, and were just giving excuses.
Unless Ababu sold his soul to the devil and cannot buy it back.
Unless Ababu is only a tactical, and not a strategic thinker.
Will Ababu pick open opportunity over petty personal pride?
Tell him that his principles require a platform. And, in Kenya, none is better than ODM, and being in the graduated, royally ready team that inherits from Raila Odinga. Tell Ababu that only fools don’t change their minds.
Form is temporary; class is permanent.
Kidero in Nairobi and Nyanza, Nanok in Turkana, Ababu in Western, Goveronor Ongwae in Kisii, Hon Memusi in Maasailand. Farah and Speaker Farah Maalim in North Eastern. The others will emerge.
And Baba Mdogo, Sultani Joho!
Yote yawezekana tena!
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