Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga says he is not pro-secession but respects those who have raised the proposal because they have legitimate concerns.
He expressly told London’s Financial Times that he is not in support of the formation of People’s Republic of Kenya.
Raila said his vision is to see Kenya remain one.
“We believe in a united Kenya. We do not support secession, but you have seen the disintegration of countries in Eastern Europe. This debate about self-determination is gaining currency as a result of mis-governance,” he told the London news outlet during his visit last week.
Without mentioning any name, Raila said the drivers of the secession agenda are justified because Kenya has suffered since independence due to successive ethnic discrimination.
The secession debate was ignited by NASA’s head strategist, Dr David Ndii, an economist a few days after the Supreme Court nullified August 8 polls.
Ndii in his sentiments noted secession was the answer to ending Kenya’s historical injustices especially in ending “sham elections”.
“People feel they have been completely disenfranchised. But we’re clearly in a political environment that could start hurtling downhill and it could go in any direction,” said he.
This drew varied and harsh reaction from public and political quarters who felt that though Kenya has been grappling with myriad historical injustices, separatist agenda was not the way to go.
Inuka Kenya Trust CEO John Githongo notes that bungled August polls that now pit Jubilee against NASA have ignited the secession debate that has never been so popular in the country.
However, he adds, the debate can only go far because both Jubilee and NASA seemingly do not support it as would be expected.
“As a debate, I can categorically say this has legs. But the debate may not gain political traction because it does not enjoy support from the two political bigwigs— Mr Odinga and President Kenyatta,” said Githongo according to Daily Nation.