CORD leader Raila Odinga will perhaps remain to be the most remarkable Kenyan politician for a long time even after he retires from active politics.
Mr Odinga has managed to remain relevant and dominated media headlines despite not being in the reigning Government for almost five years now.
Though many would want to dismiss the former Prime Minister as a leader only hungry for power, Mr Odinga has brought to light pertinent issues that probably would have remained in the dark despite them having a negative impact on the lives of Kenyans and the country as a whole.
Eurobond
First on the list is the infamous Eurobond scandal in which billions of shillings are still unaccounted for according to an audit report by the Auditor General.
Last year, Mr Odinga accused the Government of swindling the money, saying that the record books presented by Treasury could not add up.
According to the Opposition leader, the National Treasury was unable to explain to Kenyans how the Sh275 Billion EuroBond money was spent, claiming that over Sh100 Billion could not be accounted for.
In as much as the Government tried to devise every strategy in the books to rubbish Mr Odinga’s claims, the Eurobond scandal sparked a storm in the country with the government being put on the defensive.
On Sunday, Odinga sparked a fresh row after he revealed plans by the government to float another EuroBond on the Irish Stock Exchange. The former Prime Minister warned that if the International Lending institutions approve the plan, Kenya could plunge into a serious financial crisis.
NYS Scandal
Secondly, the Sh791 Million National Youth Service (NYS) scandal, which was exposed in 2015, also saw Mr Odinga weigh in on the matter heavily demanding the ouster of then Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru.
The former premier never lost his grip on the matter even when Ms Waiguru defended herself claiming to be a whistle-blower in the saga that saw huge amounts of money disappear mysteriously.
Odinga insisted that a whistle-blower could also be a thief, statements that saw Waiguru threaten to sue him.
After a long fight, however, the former minister vacated office, NYS officers linked to the dubious dealings lost their jobs while businessmen and women connected to the loss of the money are currently in court trying to defend themselves.
IEBC
Earlier in 2016, CORD under the leadership of Odinga made Kenya come to a standstill when it launched a spirited fight to demand the disbandment of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The Coalition started routine Monday demos dubbed teargas Monday, consequently paralysing business operations in various parts of the country, especially Nairobi.
The Opposition chief claimed that the Isaack Hassan-led commission was too compromised to oversee the 2017 elections, hence, they had to vacate office.
Though the Government tried to dismiss CORD’s movement noting that they were only propagating politics, Odinga did not let go and in October 2016, the commissioners handed their resignation letters to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Artur Brothers Saga
During the Mwai Kibaki era when Odinga was MP for Lang’ata, he exposed two Armenian brothers who were allegedly in the country illegally stating that they were mercenaries, conmen and drug dealers receiving protection from high profile individuals in Government.
According to a parliamentary report, the two foreigners, Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargysyanwere drug lords working for government officials. They are believed to have led a raid on Standard Group Limited following an investigative piece by journalist Mohammed Ali and Dennis Onsarigo unveiling their dubious dealings.
Initially, Odinga was dismissed when he brought this issue to light and the Armenian brothers even tried to turn the tables on him highlighting that Odinga had asked them for Sh3 Billion to finance a no-confidence motion against then-President Kibaki.
The duo was later deported from the country in what parliament described as a stage-managed deportation. This came after the brothers drew their guns at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Northern Collector Tunnel Project
The latest of Odinga’s bombshells is the Northern Collector Tunnel in Murang’a which he accused the Jubilee Government of implementing secretly without conducting due diligence. Odinga noted that the secret design of the project would turn Murang’a, Garissa, Ukambani and Tana River regions into a desert.
Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has since refuted the allegations mentioning that an adequate environmental assessment had been done and the project would neither lead to desertification nor was it being conducted in secrecy.
Mr Odinga seems to always have high intelligence regarding various activities in the country which have consistently turned out to be true.
During a previous national address by the Opposition, the former Prime Minister was asked where he gets his information from and he said: “I have been in this government, therefore, I have my contacts and I get information, so whenever I blow the whistle I have properly investigated and know exactly what has transpired.”
