Havi: Raila seemed to disappoint many at the tail end of his political career
By Mabonga Makhanu, October 21, 2025Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has said that the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga appeared to disappoint many Kenyans who once saw him as a revolutionary figure, especially at the tail end of his political career.
Speaking during an interview on a local television station on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Havi observed that Raila’s final political decisions before his death seemed to anger those who had always viewed him as a steadfast champion of change and opposition politics.
Also watch: Raila Odinga as Prime Minister: Achievements and friction with Kibaki
“At the tail end of his political career, Raila seemed to disappoint many of those who saw him as a revolutionary,” Havi said.
However, Havi also played the devil’s advocate, suggesting that those who felt disappointed might have been wrong in their judgement.
He noted that Raila’s political strategy had always been one of careful calculation, a blend of confrontation and negotiation that consistently positioned him at the centre of Kenya’s political settlements following disputed elections.
According to Havi, Raila was able to negotiate from a position of strength because he possessed the influence and mobilisation power to challenge the system when necessary.
He explained that in politics, meaningful negotiation is only possible when one has the power to resist or wage political battles, even if not through violence.
Havi further observed that Raila’s legacy should not be measured by confrontation or chaos but by his belief in democratic transformation through the ballot rather than the bullet.
He argued that those seeking to inherit Raila’s mantle must understand that his greatest contribution was empowering citizens to see the ballot as the true instrument of change.
He added that Raila’s political maturity often prevented the country from descending into conflict during tense moments, as he understood his role as a unifying figure capable of calming tensions
Muluka’s perspective
Political commentator and communication expert Barrack Muluka also echoed the same, saying that Raila at the end of his life appeared to have gone slow on his quest for good governance, something that has long defined his political career, but on sensing these young leaders drawn from his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party to fill the void that was being left by Raila.