Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe refer Odinga presidential candidature as a Mandela moment, but I will refer it as both Mandela and Buthelezi moment.
Chief Mongusuthu Buthelezi was the leader of the Zulu based Inkatha Freedom Party which was a thorn in a fresh during South Africa fast black President Nelson Mandela presidency. It regularly used to attacks the African National Congress [ANC] party supporters. And at one time, about 15,000 people died in feuding between their supporters. Just like deaths occurred in Kenya notably or climaxed in 2007 with Raila, DP Ruto and Uhuru in the picture.
In what seemed as conciliatory gesture towards the leader of the Zulu ‘Nyanza and Northrift’ based Inkatha Freedom Party, President Mandela in February, 1997, appointed the Minister of Home Affairs, Chief Mongosuthu Buthelezi his trouble maker as acting president of the country.
Mr Mandela was to attend the World Economic Forum in Switzerland for two days and his deputy then, Mr Thabo Mbeki was also absent in Davos for official engagements.
Oh! Buthelezi got more than he bargained for. In those two days he was acting as president and in that matter commander in chief, uprising erupted in Lesotho and he telephoned Mandela for guidance. Well, it was reported Mandela told he was one commander in chief there can not be two commanders in chief. So, Buthelezi had to command the armed forces who quested the uprising.
What more, after the return of Mandela, Buthelezi having felt the heat of the seat never caused troubles again towards Mandela government. I have the feelings is what President Uhuru Kenyatta is what is forward envisaging to accomplish by embracing his three political rivals: DP Ruto [2013]; Odinga and Karua.