George Omondi
27 April 2008
Nairobi — As the grand coalition government finalised its peace tour of the Rift Valley province, two key players appeared to have finally crafted ways of handling the riddle of protocol.
In Molo, the power games that the residents of the province have been treated to for the last three days took a different fashion altogether.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga settled on yet another way of displaying his popularity as he appeared to have left the task of introducing the head of state at public functions to Vice President Mr Kalonzo Musyoka.
Mr Odinga arrived at the peace meeting late, long after most speakers including area MP Joseph Kiuna had concluded their speeches. Like he might have designed it, his late arrival caused a stir as sounds of chants and ululation that greeted his entry briefly disrupted the function.
The Internal Security Minister George Saitoti who was then on the podium was forced to suspend his speech temporarily to acknowledge the PM's arrival.
But the prime minister elongated the drama by waving back at the jubilant wananchi to acknowledge their applause.
Simmering tension
And when he was finally invited to the podium, he chose his words carefully and avoided the simmering tension between him and Mr Musyoka.
Perhaps decoding the PM's unspoken language, Mr Musyoka subtly admitted that his role in the peace rallies was subservient to that of the two principals.
"The patriotic people of Molo, mine is very brief - to welcome the president to give his address. But first allow me to request only one thing from you - a greeting" he said to a thunderous response.
Buoyed by the response, the VP went ahead and gave a speech lasting almost ten minutes. He took the opportunity to send a pointed message that he had no apologies to make for choosing to back President Kibaki.
He later announced that he would not accompany the president and PM to the remaining rallies in Kuresoi and Naivasha because he had to go back to Nairobi and deal with the prison wardens' grievances.
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