Speaking in a radio interview on March 28, Mwangi said Raila had carefully crafted a strategy that ensured he always retained leverage, even while entering political arrangements with rivals.
According to Mwangi, Raila’s decision to engage Ruto politically was never meant to fully tie him to the government.
Instead, the veteran politician reportedly maintained two ideological camps within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to keep his options open.
Raila’s calculated political strategy
Mwangi explained that Raila deliberately allowed a faction within ODM to openly oppose the cooperation with Ruto. That faction, he claimed, was largely associated with Sifuna and other outspoken leaders.
He said the arrangement allowed Raila to shift political direction if the partnership with the government failed.
“When Raila started working with Ruto, he already had an exit strategy,” Mwangi said during the interview. “Those who were strongly opposing the cooperation formed the other side that he could rely on if things changed.”
Mwangi added that if the deal with the government collapsed, Raila could easily have returned to the more militant wing of the party and repositioned himself in opposition.
Raila’s calculated political strategy
Mwangi explained that Raila deliberately allowed a faction within ODM to openly oppose the cooperation with Ruto. That faction, he claimed, was largely associated with Sifuna and other outspoken leaders.
He said the arrangement allowed Raila to shift political direction if the partnership with the government failed.
“When Raila started working with Ruto, he already had an exit strategy,” Mwangi said during the interview. “Those who were strongly opposing the cooperation formed the other side that he could rely on if things changed.”
Mwangi added that if the deal with the government collapsed, Raila could easily have returned to the more militant wing of the party and repositioned himself in opposition.
Parallel factions within ODM
The lawyer argued that this approach — maintaining competing internal camps — was not accidental but part of Raila’s long-standing political style.
According to him, Raila often ensured that no single political arrangement could completely limit his influence.
“The reason he allowed two factions to exist during negotiations was because he was a strategist. He never allowed himself to be boxed into one corner,” Mwangi explained.
The factions reportedly included leaders who were open to cooperation with the government and others who strongly opposed it.
Leadership vacuum after Raila’s death
Mwangi also suggested that the internal tensions currently rocking ODM have been worsened by the absence of Raila’s authority.
He argued that the late leader often played a balancing role between different camps in the party, preventing disagreements from escalating into major divisions.
“The problem we have today is that he passed away before he could bring everyone back together,” Mwangi said.
ODM grapples with internal divisions
The remarks come as ODM navigates a period of political uncertainty following Raila’s death.
Oburu Odinga has since been endorsed as the party’s new leader and is expected to lead structured discussions with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
However, Sifuna has publicly opposed the new leadership arrangement, stating that he cannot continue serving as the party’s Secretary General under Oburu.
The lawyer argued that this approach — maintaining competing internal camps — was not accidental but part of Raila’s long-standing political style.
According to him, Raila often ensured that no single political arrangement could completely limit his influence.
“The reason he allowed two factions to exist during negotiations was because he was a strategist. He never allowed himself to be boxed into one corner,” Mwangi explained.
The factions reportedly included leaders who were open to cooperation with the government and others who strongly opposed it.
Leadership vacuum after Raila’s death
Mwangi also suggested that the internal tensions currently rocking ODM have been worsened by the absence of Raila’s authority.
He argued that the late leader often played a balancing role between different camps in the party, preventing disagreements from escalating into major divisions.
“The problem we have today is that he passed away before he could bring everyone back together,” Mwangi said.
ODM grapples with internal divisions
The remarks come as ODM navigates a period of political uncertainty following Raila’s death.
Oburu Odinga has since been endorsed as the party’s new leader and is expected to lead structured discussions with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
However, Sifuna has publicly opposed the new leadership arrangement, stating that he cannot continue serving as the party’s Secretary General under Oburu.
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