Raila Odinga, Kenya’s veteran politician, is no stranger to controversy, and one of his most famous political maneuvers—the handshake—has raised questions about loyalty, betrayal, and survival in Kenya’s volatile political landscape. From his alliances with former presidents like Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and now William Ruto, Odinga’s political model has often involved reconciliation with his opponents, but at what cost?
The “handshake” phenomenon first came into the spotlight after the controversial 2017 elections. After a bitter, contested election between Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta, Odinga rejected the results, leading to months of protests and tension. However, in 2018, a surprising move occurred: Odinga and Kenyatta, former bitter rivals, held a handshake that led to a political truce. It was presented as a gesture of unity aimed at healing the country’s divisions. But to many, this handshake raised eyebrows. Critics called it a strategic move for personal survival rather than a genuine reconciliation, with Odinga often accused of betraying his own supporters.
This skepticism isn’t new. Odinga’s political career has been marked by several instances where he has formed unlikely alliances with his former adversaries. His handshake with Kibaki after the 2007 post-election violence and with Moi during the transition period were seen as political necessities at the time. Yet, each of these handshakes has been met with mixed reactions—some seeing it as a stroke of genius and others as a betrayal of his own supporters who voted for him with the hope that he would remain an unflinching opposition leader.
For many of his allies, including Babu Owino, Musalia Mudavadi, and Moses Wetangula, Odinga’s handshakes have often felt like betrayal. The formation of NASA (National Super Alliance) in 2017 was a significant moment for opposition unity, but after the 2018 handshake, many felt abandoned. Mudavadi and Wetangula, key players in the NASA coalition, were left to pick up the pieces, feeling that Odinga’s deal with Kenyatta left them sidelined in the political discourse.
The handshakes also led to accusations of deceit, with critics claiming that Odinga was willing to compromise his principles for political survival,
making deals with the ruling party even though they had sworn never to collaborate. For Odinga, these moves are survival tactics—strategic recalibrations in a political environment where alliances can shift overnight. After all, Kenya’s political landscape is unpredictable, and no one understands the art of navigating this turbulence better than Raila.
As the 2027 election approaches, the question remains: will Odinga’s political survival strategy continue? While some see him as the master of reinvention, others view him as a political opportunist, willing to betray his allies for a shot at power. With the rise of William Ruto as president, Odinga’s next move will likely depend on his ability to form new alliances—or extend the hand of reconciliation once again. Whatever happens, Odinga’s handshake politics will remain a defining feature of his legacy, raising important questions about loyalty, strategy, and the price of political survival.
