Why PM’s tour to central Kenya is causing jitters

• POLITICS: As Raila Odinga’s planned tour of central Kenya causes jitters among Uhuru’s allies, the move is discomforting to forces opposed to the visit as opinion poll shows PM’s popularity in region has grown.

Mr Odinga would go ahead to endorse Mr Kibaki’s candidacy through the famous Kibaki Tosha declaration. Mr Odinga then campaigned for Mr Kibaki who was the Narc torchbearer, handing Kanu and Mr Kenyatta a humiliating defeat.

Since then, the two have been thrust into competing positions, except when they teamed up in 2005 to defeat the proposed new constitution in a referendum. But even then, their alliance was short-lived.

Mr Kenyatta bolted from the Orange Movement and led his Kanu troops to rally behind  President Kibaki, Mr Odinga’s rival in the disputed 2007 General Election.

And after the enactment of the National Accord which led to power sharing between Party of National Unity and the Orange Democratic Movement, the two have been engaged in political intrigues which have seen them holding divergent positions on national issues.

The most notable are the Mau evictions, resettlement of IDPs, trial of post-election violence suspects and the debate on the proposed new constitution.

In an interesting turn of events, Mr Kenyatta has teamed up with Mr Ruto, the ODM deputy leader who has been at loggerheads with Mr Odinga, to oppose the premier’s approach on the Mau resettlement. 

Against advice of powerful political voices, Mr Kenyatta was the guest of honour at a harambee meeting for the Mau victims at which speakers took turns criticising Mr Odinga.

And on constitution review, Mr Kenyatta led the PNU onslaught in the Naivasha talks where ODM made considerable concessions.