City lawyer Ahmednasir Abdulahi on Tuesday night left supporters of ODM Leader Raila Odinga rattled after he made a controversial remark on the former Prime Minister during his reaction to the death of Kenya’s second President, Daniel Moi who passed on at the Nairobi Hospital earlier in the day.
In his tribute to the man whose 24-year rule is vividly remembered for all kind of reasons, the Senior Counsel who specializes in constitutional law asked Kenyans not to excessively vilify Mr. Moi but appreciate both his strengths and flaws.
“Don’t praise Moi because he is dead. Don’t condemn or vilify him because he is dead. He had many flaws and some strength.”
He added that the father of eight who retired in 2002, ruled Kenya without the support of two of the country’s largest ethnic groups – the Kikuyu and Luo – which, according to Abdullahi, makes him the “True Baba” and not his one time fierce critic Raila Odinga, whom he made a guest of the state many times during his highly debatable tenure.
“He ruled Kenya for 24 years without the support of the Kikuyu and the Luo, the two largest ethnic groups in Kenya. He was the TRUE BABA before the little Baba emerged.”
As expected, the lawyer’s sentiments would soon attract various responses from the ever vocal Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) who always take up every available opportunity to exercise their freedom of expression.
We’ve sampled some of the netizens’ replies below.
Baba alikukulia Bibi ama😂😂✍️
— Frank Mtetezi 🗨️🇰🇪 (@FrankMtetezi) February 4, 2020
Little who?😂😂😂
— Aleykii (@Aleykii2) February 4, 2020
Little baba 😂😂
— ISPAN KIMUTAI (@IspanKimutai) February 4, 2020
Raila's official new name!
Only RAO came out stronger from the torture chambers at Nyayo house. What if it was vise versa!
— Moses Isutsa (@LugaliaAndega) February 4, 2020
I knew this post would eventually narrow down to some narrow thinking ~ Raila Odinga…. pple whose beds can not carry every night unless & until they mention Raila Odinga🤣🤣🤣
— Collins Fredrick (@Coundo) February 4, 2020
Filthy true 😁😁
— Eastleigh general 👨✈️ (@real_damsa) February 4, 2020
You never miss your Mark. This is true insight
— Dick Ndunda (@dick_ndunda) February 4, 2020
Baba mdogo bado ni Baba..
— Momanyi (@TheMomanyi) February 4, 2020
Atleast you know that @RailaOdinga is Baba
Well said sir!… he was the genuine BABA we had..
— Nelson Langat (@Nelsonkipkor) February 4, 2020
Raila, who was among those detained during President Moi’s reign, spoke out about his reconciliation with the country’s second president whom he praised as an elder statesman.
He said Moi inherited a fairly polarised political landscape when he became president in 1978 and struggled to unite the people.
“Moi and I reconciled after the political differences of the 1980s and early 90s and we were able to work together to bring more reforms to the country. Our cooperation gave way to merger with his party KANU, which put the country firmly on the path to a new constitution,” he said.
