08/09/2026
WHAT EDWIN SIFUNA MUST LEARN FROM THE LATE RAILA ODINGA’S 30-YEAR POLITICAL RELEVANCE, AND WHY WILLIAM RUTO HAS FAILED TO LEARN:
For nearly three decades, Raila Amollo Odinga was more than a politician. He was a political force, a symbol of resistance, reform, opposition, negotiation, reconciliation and, above all, the power of ordinary citizens to shape Kenya’s political direction.
Despite electoral defeats, arrests, detention, political isolation and collapsing alliances, Raila remained relevant across generations.
WHAT KEPT RAILA RELEVANT?
1. HE UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE
Raila understood that political power ultimately comes from the people. He stayed connected to the grassroots, listened to public frustrations and gave voice to the aspirations of ordinary Kenyans.
2. HE KNEW HOW TO SURVIVE DEFEATS
He lost elections and endured major political setbacks, but never treated defeat as political death. He reinvented himself and remained connected to the people.
3. HE UNDERSTOOD COALITIONS
Raila knew Kenya was too diverse to be permanently governed by one community, party or personality. He knew when to fight, negotiate, compromise and build bridges.
4. HE EVOLVED WITH THE TIMES
The Raila of the 1990s was not the same Raila of 2010, 2017 or 2022. His strategies, alliances and political language evolved with Kenya.
5. HE LEFT AN IDEA BIGGER THAN HIMSELF
His legacy went beyond elections. Constitutionalism, multiparty democracy, political reform, devolution and the belief that ordinary citizens have a voice remain central to Kenya’s political conversation.
THIS IS WHERE EDWIN SIFUNA MUST PAY ATTENTION
If Edwin Sifuna wants to occupy some of the political space Raila left behind, he cannot simply inherit Raila’s slogans, crowds or oratory. He must understand the principles that made Raila endure.
Sifuna has demonstrated courage and the ability to command public attention. But that alone is not enough:
➡️ He must Build structures beyond his traditional political base.
➡️ Speak to youth, farmers, workers, business people, professionals and ordinary wananchi.
➡️ Offer solutions, not just criticism.
➡️ Defend constitutionalism even when it is politically inconvenient.
➡️ Build a movement capable of surviving Edwin Sifuna himself.
SO, WHY HAS WILLIAM RUTO FAILED TO LEARN THE RAILA LESSON?
President William Ruto understood one part of Raila’s formula exceptionally well: grassroots mobilisation.
In 2022, he successfully presented himself as the outsider, the hustler and champion of ordinary citizens.
But perhaps he missed the deeper lesson:
▶️That once you become government, the political equation changes.
▶️That the people who put you in power become the very people you must continuously convince that you deserve to remain there.
▶️That political slogans, mobilisation and attacks on opponents cannot permanently substitute for public trust, accountability, delivery and tangible improvements in people’s lives.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE POLITICAL MEMORY
➡️Kenyans remember promises.
➡️They remember alliances.
➡️They remember broken commitments.
➡️They remember how leaders treated them when they were vulnerable.
✳️And when election time comes, political memory can become political judgement.
THE BIGGER LESSON
Raila Odinga’s political journey teaches Kenya one profound truth, that:
POLITICAL RELEVANCE IS NOT INHERITED, IT IS EARNED.
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