Former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga. PHOTO/CHARLES MUGA
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has accused African leaders of stifling opposition and the civil society .
Yesterday, he said leaders mobilise ethnic groups to capture and retain power.
“This strategy has emphasised ethnic group sizes in determining one’s value in politics,” Raila said.
The former PM, whose Cord alliance was defeated by Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee Coalition in the March 4 general election, was addressing the 8th Eisa Annual Symposium at Sandton, Johannesburg.
The symposium focused on themes in democracy and governance.
In his speech, Raila said African leaders are slowly reincarnating “Big Men” syndrome that was common in the continent in the 1990s.
“They purport to create free and independence Judiciary, then try to pack the courts of law with their loyalists, just in case some opposition leaders or civil society types decide to try their chances at justice in the courts,” he said.
Raila said the threat of violence hangs over almost every election in Africa because “a number of leaders have resorted to ethnic driven alliances.”
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