If former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s political challenges were divided into three parts, chances are that the first would be the external factor, the government; the second would be Junet Mohammed representing the internal circumstances then finally, Raila himself.
The challenge in vogue at present is Junet. So I will stick there and discuss only one point in this piece.
Raila was a goldmine, and brokers – who included pro bono bodyguards – exploited it to the fullest. This may also explain why Luo MPs are in panic.
The picture used to illustrate this article features Peter Owino Rang’inya, Raila Odinga and myself at his (Raila’s) Karen home. The red paper-bag on the table contained Ksh5 million ($38,730) – a donation to his presidential campaign on Jamhuri Day (December 12, 2021) in the morning.
The donors of the Ksh5 million were Somali businessmen. Two days before that, I had been summoned by Rang’inya who told me that some the Somali businessmen wanted to support Raila but had failed to be cleared by Junet. Reason?
Junet’s conditions were too “expensive”. They complained that they had been told that there was a Luhyia (me) whom Raila had sacked and who was too honest, who could assist them reach Raila.
When we met them at Stage ya Raila in Karen, they tried to hand over the bundle of cash to us but we told them that they would give it to Baba themselves. They told us that the Somali experience on that procedure was different.
“Kawaida, tunapeana pesa kwa escort alafu baada ya meeting ndio mzee anapewa kama tumeshaenda.” (Ordinarily, we are escorted to give such donations, then after we leave, the money is hand to him.)
Obviously, this is how brokers used to give themselves a share as they wait for the final share from Raila. They made more money than Raila himself.
The Kenyan-Somalis personally gave the former prime minister the cash, had a chat with him, took pictures and left us behind as can be seen in the photo provided. It’s here that Raila gave us the story of his brother Agola who died after he was released from police custody.
After they had left, Raila stood up and said: “I should give you something.”
He pulled out a million shillings and gave us. We were confused since we were not expecting it and had no bag with which to carry the cash.
After leaving Karen, the Somalis called us again thanking us for giving them the opportunity to engage Raila and take pictures with him. They gave us another Ksh350,000 ($2,711).
I now understood why people who had worked with Raila never accepted a sack. I also understood why Raila had many bodyguards on voluntary basis. They were part brokers. Raila was gold. In a way, we got the Ksh1 million because of Junet’s misconduct. I would never have emerged as a broker if Junet had acted morally correctly.
Most importantly, I can imagine how many politicians were kept away because of this behaviour by the chief gatekeeper. Mark you, this extended to political meetings. I recall how we failed to get Kenneth Lusaka to defect to ODM in 2013 because Raila was not accessible – he was “too busy.” He chose to run on another ticket.
Finally, those who think they are hurting Junet Mohammed through disclosures of information, are mistaken. Junet joined Raila to make money and build an economic empire. Now he has an empire that stretches outside Kenya. He doesn’t care whether you elect him, love him, jeer him or cheer him.
By Tell