The defiant former Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, has been told that he is no longer the country’s Prime Minister, and should cease to function as such and desist from engaging in any political role in that capacity. The warning came in a letter written to the country’s president, Mwai Kibaki, by the Chairman for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC), Charles Nyachae. The chairman told the president that Odinga, VP Kalonzo Musyoka, and all cabinet ministers, should have vacated their respective posts on the 4th of March,  immediately after the elections, as made for by the country’s new constitution. The president is the only one allowed to remain in his office until the swearing-in of the new President-elect takes effect.

Odinga seems to be unperturbed by the rules, and totally disregards what the constitution clearly states, and still carries himself around with the air and authority of the Prime Minister of Kenya. Chairman Nyachae was unwavering in his warning: “It is important that they (Ministers) do not transact any official business as this is in violation of the constitution. Any transaction of bushiness conducted by ministers will be null and void.”

As a matter of fact,  in a recent meeting held by Odnga’s CORD coalition, the former Prime Minister did not mince his words when he refereed to the President-elect and his deputy, William Ruto, as criminals. For someone who is vying for the highest office of the land to express such recklessness in public, clearly goes to show how unfit for purpose he is. When you are in the position of someone like Raila Odinga, you should carry yourself with the utmost respect that comes with the territory. What this exposes is, Odinga’s misguided approach to seeking the presidency. It shows a man who lacks the consciousness of what it means to be president of Kenya. You simply do not insult your opponents in public, no matter what your views are of them.

This also paints a  a troubling picture of a man who cannot control his emotions in public, a certain prerequisite of being the leader of an important country like Kenya. The inadequacies of Raila Odinga have played too well into the hands of the Kenyan people. Most see him as a man who will never be satisfied with the outcome of any elections, unless he is declared the winner. And some see him as a troublemaker whose thirst for power extinguishes the need for restraint, even when it comes to important matters of state.  President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta has shown so much statesmanship since the election results were announced and even extended an invitation to Odinga to join him in government, expressing his willingness to offer him a job.

But Odinga’s focus is firmly on the supreme court where his team has lodged a challenge and are contesting the election results. Considering the conduct of the votes, which most international observers have hailed free and fair, and the transparency in which the entire process was carried out,  and also the tedious process in not only putting together any evidence to substantiate claims of irregularities, but presenting credible evidence to convince a panel of distinguished Judges of the supreme court that the votes where tampered with, the CORD team may have embarked on a futile exercise which ultimately will dent Odinga’s credibility even more.

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