ODM leader Raila Odinga at a past event. [Source/Courtesy]
Before the March 9, 2018 handshake between ODM leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila was unwanted man in most parts of Central Kenya.
In all the four elections Raila has vied for the presidency, he has got scanty votes despite being endorsed by some politicians from the populous region.
In the run up to the 2007 general election, the ODM boss was such an unwelcome visitor in Central Kenya to an extent he was flushed out of a Nyeri hotel moments after ordering a meal.
On the August 20, 2007, Raila attended the burial of an official of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Peterson Kaburu, at Mwanda Village in Mathira constituency and later landed at Nyeri Tourist Hotel for lunch.
He was accompanied by his associates including former cabinet ministers Joseph Nyaga, Reuben Ndolo, and former Thika mayor Mumbi Ng’aru.
As they were waiting to be served lunch, the hotel owner, Lucy Weru, stormed in and ordered bouncers to kick out the opposition politicians from her hotel.
In his biography 'The Flame of Freedom', Raila vividly recalls events of that unfortunate incident: "We had just completed a successful tour of Mathira and had gone into the hotel for refreshments, when the proprietor came into the dining room and began shouting at us."
"Who brought you here? We do not want ODM here. Can you please leave now? We do not want your money," the ODM boss recounted how Weru roared.
Weru's daughter is married to retired President Mwai Kibaki's son. Raila was to face Kibaki in a hotly contested presidential election four months from the hotel incident.
The hotel proprietor did not mind what would happen later incase Raila defeated Kibaki and got elected president.
“Waambie watoke. Na hata akiwa rais asinisaidie (Tell them to get out and even if he becomes president I do not want his assistance),” the angry woman told the security guards.
The incident made national headlines and was even condemned by the local MP. A few months later, the country went up in flames where more than 1500 people were killed and thousands left homeless.
Is the unfortunate incident likely to happen again in case Raila visits Nyeri today?