Thursday, August 23, 2007

Constricted political space and forced allies

It was not a big headline, but it may count for more than is obvious. Former Cabinet Minister and Marakwet MP Linah Jebii Kilimo has packed her bags, left the ODM 'bash' and returned to support the government. I am not going to speculate on the exact reasons for the departure of the Marakwet legislator, who was famous not just for her courage in advocating the rights of women in her area before she came to Nairobi, but also for her resolution when she chose to quit the government and serve ODM. But it is curious that she should return now, to the very people and group she had previously made speeches against, and from whose grip she had sought to redeem her people.

More from Amir Ibrahim here.