Azimio La Umoja's flagbearer, Raila Odinga, is familiar with betrayal and dejection and has always come out stronger after losing elections. Former Orange Democratic Movement's director for political affairs and strategy, Wafula Buke, says.
Buke spoke in response to Raila's allies who have since defected to President-elect William Ruto's camp after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, announced him the winner of the 2022 General Election.
In 2013 and 2017, the former Prime Minister was also rejected and betrayed by his close allies after losing the polls according to Buke.
His Capital Hill office in Nairobi, which has always been characterised by a beehive of activities, never had visitors for quite some time.
According to Buke, no one wanted to associate with Raila after he lost the presidential election to President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013. His confidants even deserted him despite Raila's party winning majority seats in all elective posts.
"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.
Buke further alleged that at one time, Raila travelled to Kilifi but then governor, Amason Kingi, reportedly never received him.
After losing again to Uhuru in 2017, the former Prime Minister reportedly sunk into a series of rejections once more. Buke claimed that his allies wanted him to retire and go home.
"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 started shifting allegiance against underestimating the former Prime Minister.
Among the leaders who joined Ruto's camp were United Democratic Movement (UDM) party leader, Ali Roba, and outgoing Makueni governor, Kivutha Kibwana.
