Mahatma Gandhi, the legendary freedom fighter never lived to become India’s President or Prime Minister. Yet, 60 years later, he is still the most celebrated freedom fighter worldwide. His passive resistance philosophy still rings a bell in the ears of new generation freedom fighters.
Gandhi inspired great heroes of black consciousness such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere among others. It was his courage in the face of imminent danger that inspired us all. He believed in nonviolence and practiced it. He feared no guns and bombs. His spirit was his greatest weapon. More importantly, he lived a humble, almost a monk’s, life.
For all his struggles, Martin Luther King Jr. never lived to see the true freedom and equality of the blackman in America. He had to die prematurely for the things he truly believed in to be good and true for the human race. Though he saw the mountain top, he never lived to cross River Jordan into the promised land just like his Prophet Moses of old. However, for his efforts, freedom for African-Americans was finally epitomised in Barack Obama becoming the first Black American President. One wonders how King would have felt, had he lived to see Barack read his first acceptance speech.
Like Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey and millions around the world, he would have shed tears for Obama. Forty years after his assassination, King has become the first black man to be celebrated with a national day in American history.
Coming back home to Raila Odinga, his loss has angered millions of Kenyans and pleased others in equal measure. It is the nature of any contest where a winner and a looser must be produced.
Since the ruling of the Supreme Court, many of Raila’s supporters I know have gone into a depression trying to come to terms with him outside active politics. For the same reason, his perennial opponents inside and outside Luoland have gone in frenzy with celebrations that at last the 'mugumo tree' has been felled.
Raila’s fall can only be put in perspective if one explores Luo folklore. Such great heroes like Lwanda Magere's and Gor Mahia's spirits never died. They have lived for a thousand years after their demise.
Unlike King, Malcolm X, Gandhi, Magere and Gor, Raila’s political fall is not permanent. He has a chance to rise up and pick the pieces one more time. His chance lies in assessing his situation candidly and discarding the many hangers who might have shielded him from reality.
He must shake off his immediate handlers. He needs to go to Mt Sinai like the Prophet Moses did for soul searching and commune with his God. He needs to retreat to Mt Olives like Jesus did when he knew his time was near. Both Moses and Jesus needed God’s intervention for renewed strength to face the battles before them.
In real terms, Raila, for all his past sufferings, ideological sermons on reforms and just government for all Kenyans, was politically crucified the same week Christians were remembering the Passion of Christ. In the case of Jesus, the pharisees and scribes were very vocal in demanding his crucifixion to the point of urging Pilate to release Barabas the murderer.
And just like in Christ’s time, some of Raila’s closest friends and beneficiaries may have denied him three times or even sold him for 30 pieces of silver. Yes, there have been sadness and pleasure in equal measure after the Supreme Court verdict. It was the same scenario after the Passion of Christ.
Following the Palm Week verdict, many scribes have been quick to throw scorn on Raila and celebrate his fall. However, unlike Jesus; Raila may not rise on the third day to rejoice with his disciples. His political resurrection may take longer.
He has to develop new strategies to realise his lifetime dream of a better, free and prosperous Kenya; a Kenya where all ethnic communities have an equal chance to be the best they can.
In pursuing this dream, he may take lessons from Mandela’s endurance in prison, Ayatollah Khomeini, who became the spiritual leader of the Iranian revolution and guided the struggle until kleptocracy was defeated.
The last thing that Cord followers expect is despair and disarray. Raila and Kalonzo Musyoka must go to the drawing board to find new ways of building a stronger party and support MPs.
They must make sure their MPs zero in on issues and put the Jubilee government on its toes to deliver on its promises. Cord must be seen in action and deed to be a credible alternative to the government in power. The time for whining and blame game should be over.
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