Constitutional lawyer Prof Makau Mutua has pushed back against claims that he played a role in the 2022 presidential election defeat of Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga, terming the accusations as misplaced and rooted in post-election “scapegoating.”
Speaking during an interview at Itifrn TV, Mutua addressed growing criticism from within Azimio circles, including remarks attributed to former Raila aide Dennis Onyango, who suggested that some of Odinga’s close advisors contributed to the coalition’s loss.
Mutua described the election outcome as deeply consequential for Azimio supporters, noting that many had viewed Odinga as a leader who narrowly missed the presidency.
“The loss of the election by Azimio and by Baba was profound for a lot of people,” Mutua said. “A lot of people say Baba is the president Kenya never had. This last election had stung Azimio a lot.”
He added that those within Odinga’s inner circle were aware of the high stakes involved, especially given the veteran politician’s age, framing the contest as potentially his final presidential bid.
Mutua, who served as a key strategist in Odinga’s campaign, dismissed assertions that he wielded undue influence over state institutions or the electoral outcome.
He emphasized that he held no official power to affect decisions by critical bodies such as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) or the judiciary.
“I did not control the government, I was not the president, I did not control the IEBC, or the Supreme Court,” he stated. “I was a private citizen, arguably one of Baba’s closest strategists and advisors.”
Responding directly to claims that he had sidelined or controlled Odinga, Mutua rejected the narrative as implausible.
“I heard Dennis say that I took Baba hostage. Do you think that any person could take Baba hostage?” he posed. “If Baba was taken hostage, where were the other people?”
The remarks come amid ongoing debate within Azimio over the factors that led to the coalition’s defeat, with differing factions offering competing explanations ranging from campaign strategy to institutional bias.
Mutua warned against what he termed “denialism” within sections of the coalition, arguing that internal reflection should replace blame-shifting.
“I think there is a lot of denialism about the outcome of the election and a lot of scapegoating,” he said.