But barring a phenomenal new crisis the political scene will be consumed by the presidential elections due in August which pit erstwhile opposition leader turned establishment man Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Deputy President William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) (AC Vol 62 No 21 Raila beats Ruto as the oligarchs' favourite)...

President Uhuru Kenyatta's new year message oozed optimism as he pointed to the high growth figures of the second half of 2021 which he attributed to the political calm brought by his 'handshake' alliance with Raila Odinga...

The kick-off of Raila Odinga's fifth presidential bid in front of around 100 000 people in Nairobi's Kasarani stadium on 10 December may have displayed 'Baba's' undimmed capacity to draw a crowd but did little to assuage fears that his coalition is currently broad but shallow...

The grand plan to parachute veteran oppositionist Raila Odinga into the presidency in the elections next August has run into powerful headwinds...

In an opinion poll released on 19 November by the TIFA market research agency in Nairobi Ruto was leading with 38% over the other three contenders: Raila Odinga (23%) Musalia Mudavadi (2%) Kalonzo Musyoka (1%)...

Then other Kikuyu a minority for now are warming up to Raila Odinga...

The alliance between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga is a political and historical oddity a marriage of duelling dynasties that could still fail...

That friendship was briefly broken in 2007-08 when Uhuru and Ruto campaigned for opposing Presidential candidates: Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga respectively...

All that changed after Kenyatta's 'handshake' with Raila Odinga in 2018 (AC Vol 59 No 6 Raila beats rivals to a new deal)...

With less than ten months before the presidential elections next year the two leading contenders are almost certain to be veteran oppositionist Raila Odinga now 'handshake' partner to President Uhuru Kenyatta who will face Kenyatta's deputy William Ruto...

It was he argued his January 2018 'handshake' with veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga that had 'cooled political temperatures' (AC Vol 62 No 21 Raila beats Ruto as the oligarchs' favourite)...