The patriarchs and scions of these families have, at one point or another, ascended to notable positions. The mention of their names evokes mixed reactions. Those who love them love them passionately while those who detest them hate them in equal measure. The Odingas That Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, famously referred to as the doyen of multi-party democracy in Kenya, wielded influence of almost mythical proportions in his native Luo Nyanza is not in doubt.
To the vast majority of the people of Luo Nyanza, Jaramogi was a political messiah whose leadership credentials were beyond reproach. He was regarded as a leader who subscribed to the noblest of ideals and was actuated by nothing but the best interests of his people. His word carried immense weight and those who dared challenge his supremacy in the politics of Luo Nyanza lived to rue their decisions. Tales abound of how Jaramogi, whenever he wanted anyone elected to a position of leadership, could just 'send greetings' and the election of such an individual was a foregone conclusion. His preferences were the preferences of his people and once he took a position, the rest had no option but to toe the line. Those who defied him were branded traitors. And true to the expectations of his people, Jaramogi did not disappoint. When Kenya became a Republic in 1964, Jaramogi was appointed the country's first vice president.
But as the VP, Jaramogi differed with President Jomo Kenyatta. His leaning towards the East rubbed Kenyatta and his henchmen the wrong way. He also took great exception to corruption in the Kenyatta regime setting him on a collision course with the president. He resigned in 1966 and formed his own political party, the Kenya People's Union. In his letter of resignation to Kenyatta, Jaramogi wrote, “You have not given any consideration to me as your number 2 in State matters. I have a conscience and this in fact does prick me when I earn public money but with no job to do. I consider this a waste of public money and I am worried lest the future generation questions my sincerity, when they would learn that I allowed myself to hold a sinecure post in the midst of poverty and misery in our country. With this realization, I cannot continue to hold this position any longer and I hereby tender my resignation.”
The friction between Jaramogi and Kenyatta came to a head when Kenyatta went to preside over the opening of the Nyanza Provincial General Hospital which had been constructed in partnership with the Russian government. The two independence leaders launched a litany of accusations directed at each other. Chaos erupted when a crowd attempted to stone the president’s motorcade. Kenyatta's security detail opened fire killing 11 people and injuring scores in the riots that ensued. Jaramogi was arrested and detained for two years. He was consigned to political oblivion until 1978 when Kenyatta passed on. Yet even in detention, Jaramogi’s influence in the politics of Luo Nyanza never waned. It continued to increase in leaps and bounds. Emboldened by Kenyatta’s exit from the political stage and the unwavering support he was accorded by his people, Jaramogi continued to agitate for multi-party democracy until his death in 1994. Upon his death, his second-born son Raila Odinga, currently serving as Kenya's Prime Minister, took over the leadership mantle from his father.
Like Jaramogi, Raila has kept a tight grip on the politics of Luo Nyanza ever since. Apart from Lands minister James Orengo who was elected to Parliament in 1997 after defying Raila and vying on a Ford Kenya ticket, no other person seen as anti-Raila has ever been elected to Parliament in Luo Nyanza. Come 2002 Orengo was not lucky. His anti-Raila stance cost him his Ugenya Parliamentary seat banishing him into the political cold for five years. It is only after he reconciled with Raila that Orengo was able to clinch the Ugenya parliamentary seat in the 2007 general election.
Apart from Raila another of Jaramogi’s son, Dr Oburu Odinga has for 19 years served as the MP for Bondo. Raila’s sister Dr Wenwa Akinyi Odinga is an academic currently serving as a diplomat in the US. The Kenyattas Then there is the Kenyatta dynasty. Kenyatta was Kenya’s founding president. He is reputed as a forceful and no nonsense leader who brooked no dissent. His descendants held and still hold positions of consequence in both the public and private sectors.
Notable among these is his son Uhuru Kenyatta who is vying for the presidency in the March 4 general election. He has held the position of MP, minister and is presently serving as the Deputy Prime Minister. Muhoho Kenyatta, another of Kenyatta’s sons, is a savvy businessman sitting atop the family’s vast business empire. Ngegi Muigai, a nephew of Jomo Kenyatta, inherited the Gatundu South parliamentary seat when Mzee passed on. Another son of Kenyatta, Peter Kenyatta once served as an assistant minister and MP for Juja. Among Kenyatta's daughters, Margaret Kenyatta is perhaps the most prominent. She was the first African woman mayor of Nairobi between 1970 and 1976. She also served as Kenya's ambassador to the United Nations from 1976 to 1986.
There is also Beth Mugo who is the late Kenyatta’s niece and is serving as the Minister for Public Health. George Muhoho, a brother-in-law of Kenyatta, served as a cabinet minister in the Moi regime. He also worked as the managing director of Kenya Airports Authority, one of the most lucrative parastatals. He is considered a close ally of President Kibaki and a member of his kitchen cabinet. Kenyatta's physician, Dr Njoroge Mungai was an influential minister and a member of his kitchen cabinet. These are just but a few of the people close to Kenyatta who rose to positions of influence. The Mois Former President Moi took over from Kenyatta in 1978 and went on to build his own political dynasty.
For the 24 years he served as Kenya’s Head of State, Moi, despite his low level of education, distinguished himself as an astute leader and a ruthless political schemer. He was always ahead of his political adversaries earning the moniker, “the professor of politics”. When he unceremoniously vacated the political scene after serving for almost two and a half decades, his son Gideon Moi inherited his Baringo Central parliamentary seat. What, however, stands out about Moi, is that during his reign as independent Kenya's second president none of his children dabbled into active politics. It is only after his exit from office that his children sought elective posts. But anyone who curried favour with Moi reaped pleasantly from the relationship with the former president.
One person who benefited enormously from Moi's magnanimity was former cabinet minister and Mathioya MP Joseph Kamotho. Even though Kamotho was never elected in his native Mathioya, Moi consistently nominated him to Parliament and ensured that he was appointed to key ministries. Former nominated MP Mark Too also gained hugely from his relationship with Moi. He was appointed as the chairman of the Lonrho Group of Companies and was later nominated to Parliament. Too is said to have been so close to Moi that all that anyone who wanted favours from the former president needed to do was to seek audience with Too and he could count the mission accomplished.
Be that as it may, the just ended political party nominations and other recent political events have left many wondering whether the Kenyan political dynasties are on their deathbed. Despite the mythical grip that Jaramogi’s family has kept on the politics of Luo Nyanza, his first born son, Dr Oburu Odinga lost his bid to vie for Siaya senator on a Coalition for Reforms and Democracy ticket. This is something that could never have been thought of before. Though the nominations were marred with violence and claims of rigging, it is widely believed that new comer William Oduol floored Dr Oburu in the nominations. The Cord ticket has since been given to another contestant following the conflict between Dr Oburu and Oduol. Another scion of Jaramogi and sister to Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Ruth Odinga, who had expressed interest in becoming the first governor of Kisumu has also bowed out of the race following a bitter dispute as to who between her and Jack Ranguma won the Cord ticket. Jakoyo Midiwo, a first cousin of Raila got a direct nomination even after being beaten by a new comer Elisha Odhiambo.
Allies of Raila such as outgoing Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo, immediate Nyakach MP Pollyns Ochieng, Alago Oluoch among others were also floored in the nominations by new comers. From the Kenyatta family Public Health minister, Beth Mugo announced, just before the nominations, that she would not vie for Nairobi senator as it had earlier on been expected. Even though she attributed her decision to advice from doctors treating her for cancer, speculation was rife that she sensed defeat and thus decided to honourably bow out of the race.
The Moi dynasty has also had its own share of political beatings. In 2007 voters in Baringo Central resoundingly voted his son Gideon out of Parliament. Moi’s other sons, Raymond and Jonathan were overwhelmingly rejected by voters in Rongai and Eldama Ravine constituencies respectively. There are even doubts as to whether Gideon’s bid for Baringo senator in the March 4 polls will avail in the face of the United Republican Party wave that is sweeping across Rift Valley province. Moi's attempt to impose Uhuru Kenyatta on Kenyans as president in 2002 also hit a snag when the National Rainbow Coalition led by Mwai Kibaki swept into office. Meanwhile in Othaya, President Kibaki’s constituency, acrimony is brewing over the The National Alliance Party nominations.
Prior to the party primaries, the Kibaki family had expressed its support for Mugambi Gichuki to take over from the president as the MP for Othaya. Kibaki’s son Jimi Kibaki even visited Othaya in the company of Mugambi and revealed that he had held discussions with the President, Jubilee coalition presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and they were all agreed that Mugambi should succeed President Kibaki as the area MP. But when the nominations were held, flamboyant Othaya political activist and businesswoman Mary Wambui won the TNA ticket, touching off a political storm that has captured the attention of many and sucked in President Kibaki's son Jimi Kibaki. Wambui has accused Jimi and other powerful forces of scheming to deny her the TNA ticket for the Othaya parliamentary seat.
What is, nonetheless, worthy of note is that despite his immense influence as the president, the people of Othaya whom he has served for more than 30 years as MP, have defied President Kibaki and nominated someone other than his preferred successor. These latest developments have brought the existence of political dynasties into sharp focus. The failure by members of these prominent families and their allies to win party tickets point to a paradigm shift in Kenyan politics. The days when people with a prominent name and those affiliated to political kingpins were guaranteed of victory in political contests are swiftly paling into oblivion.
Kenyans appear to have resolved that it is the electorate, and not political godfathers, who should choose whoever they want to serve as their leader. Those still steeped in the old way of doing things are in for a rude shock. There is a new dawn in Kenya. A dawn where meritocracy rather than ethnic affiliations are the key considerations is electing leaders to public office.
This article was published in the Star Newspaper of January 26,2013
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