Mbadi: Raila’s last words to me
Days before former Prime Minister Raila Odinga flew to India for treatment, he invited National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to the Nairobi Club for a meeting attended by National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and a former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission commissioner.
Mr Mbadi had presented the state of the economy at the last parliamentary group meeting attended by Raila, who wanted to discuss the economy and the availability of funds for counties. As Raila prepared to travel to India, Mr Mbadi was also preparing to travel to the United States for a meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
How did you learn about Raila’s death?
I arrived in Washington on Tuesday, October 14. After checking into my hotel, I went to sleep but woke up at 2am American time to a message from my adviser saying, “Nyang’otek” (I know it’s difficult, but I hope you will manage).
I immediately knew Raila was gone. I had two missed calls from him, but when I called back, I could not reach him. I could not sleep again, so I showered and tried to relax. I had an early meeting with the IMF, but I was in no state to attend.
My Treasury team was already waiting downstairs. After breakfast, they began checking for available flights back to Kenya because the IMF meeting could not go ahead. They could not get Emirates tickets, and the only available option was Ethiopian Airlines. I left Washington on Wednesday and arrived in Nairobi on Friday.
What was your last conversation with him?
Our last conversation was after the last parliamentary group meeting he attended, where I presented the state of the economy.
After the meeting, he called me, and we met at the Nairobi Club with Junet Mohamed and a former IEBC commissioner. We had a lengthy discussion, and he even asked me to consult Prof Hiroyuki Hino about our debt situation.
He really wanted me to succeed. His last words to me were: “Ensure Ruto succeeds, and we will help you.”
How has politics changed since his death?
Raila has left a void in the country’s governance. Few people remain relevant in politics for as long as he did. Politics is now deficient in principled leaders.
Raila could acknowledge the government when it did something right. The country has also lost a patriot who could sacrifice his ambitions for its sake. He was a towering figure who controlled the country’s politics, effectively setting the government’s agenda.
How has ODM navigated politics without Raila?
Raila was ODM, and ODM was Raila, but to his credit, he left a party capable of surviving beyond him. He built a national support base and established structures through which members meet and take positions on various issues.
Under the circumstances, the current officials have done their best to hold the party together. They have navigated difficult political terrain because it is not easy to sustain a party after the death of such a towering figure.
My advice to them is to consult more and recognise that Raila is no longer there. They must do things that please the people. Party primaries, for instance, must be transparent.
Would ODM still be united if Raila were alive?
Yes. Edwin Sifuna would not have left, and neither would Godfrey Osotsi, Caleb Amisi, Babu Owino or James Orengo.
The party remains significantly strong, and its support base has not been affected much in Nyanza, which remains firmly behind ODM. The Coast, Maa and Western regions have been affected. Realistically, however, we have lost about 20 per cent of our support base.
You served as ODM chairman for 10 years under Raila. What did you learn from him?
I started working with Raila before joining ODM, when I was at the University of Nairobi. I learnt that he was courageous, had a strong grassroots network, was consultative and committed to any good cause.
Would Raila have supported President Ruto in 2027?
He was still weighing his options, but there was a high chance he would have supported him. He wanted the Social Health Authority (SHA) to succeed and was proud of the affordable housing project. He said that if the President’s initiatives succeeded, he would support him. If they failed, he would be on the ballot.
Would politics be different if Raila were alive?
Things would definitely be different. Raila’s support would have silenced the current opposition leaders, or he would have defeated them politically or brought them under control.
It would have been much easier for Ruto if they had worked together. But if they had parted ways, the electoral process would have been turbulent.
What is ODM’s biggest challenge without Raila?
The biggest challenge is discipline within the party. We had a party that respected its leadership, policies and constitution. Once the party leader spoke, that was the final position.
Today, however, people challenge the party leader’s position. That is not right.
As party chairperson, Gladys Wanga is central to building the party and must consult widely before making decisions. So far, she is doing well and has been consulting on several issues.
How would you describe Raila’s legacy?
Raila stood for good governance, human rights and minority rights. If you wanted to incur his wrath, you only had to speak ill of minorities or persons living with disabilities.
At ODM’s 10th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa, your remarks were interpreted as celebrating Raila’s death. What did you mean?
I spoke from the heart and told people to stop name-dropping all the time because Raila spoke to many people, and we could not verify every claim.
But my remarks were twisted to make them sound like a celebration. People thought they could use them for political purposes.
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