- Dr. Ndonye criticized Raila’s proposed Intergenerational National Conclave as self-serving, questioning its purpose and labeling Raila’s political neutrality as strategic ambiguity that sustains his influence in both government and opposition.
Political analyst Dr. Michael Ndonye has weighed in on former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s proposal for an Intergenerational National Conclave, describing it as a move driven by personal interest rather than national interest. Dr Ndonye was speaking on the Political Oracle, a segment of the TalkChat podcast on July 26, 2025.
Backing his response, Dr. Ndonye explained that Raila refers to it as “Intergenerational” because he recognizes that a new generation is rising to take over the political scene in the country.
“Because the first generation does not want to retire, they want to have a negotiation, a conversation with the incoming generation,” Dr Ndonye said.
The political analyst further noted that once change begins, it is nearly impossible to stop. He emphasized that resisting a revolution when its time has come is extremely difficult.
In his view, Raila’s talk about intergenerational politics is an attempt to position himself at the heart of the discussion, aligning with Gen Z, even though he actually belongs to an older generation.
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“When Raila talks about intergenerational, he is trying to put himself at the center of the conversation as a member of the Gen Z while he belongs to a different generation,” said Dr Ndonye.
He further noted that if the incoming generation wanted intergenerational dialogue, they would have asked for it.
“If the incoming generation wanted intergenerational dialogue, they would have asked for it,” Dr. Ndonye added
The analyst questioned the purpose of the proposed conclave, pointing out that its suggested functions such as holding a national dialogue across generations, initiating police reforms to restructure the force and end brutality, and driving anti-corruption efforts are responsibilities that squarely fall under the government, not a political conclave.
Responding to the question of whether the conclave is the right way to solve the economic challenges Kenya is facing, Dr. Ndonye said, “The best way to solve the problems that we are having is for the government to do its work and keep its promises."
Responding to Raila’s recent claims of neutrality—his ability to speak to the government while simultaneously engaging the opposition Dr. Ndonye compared him to “the church of Laodicea in the Bible, which is neither hot nor cold.”
Dr. Ndonye explained that this ambiguity has been Raila’s greatest strength, allowing him to survive in politics for decade. This adaptability, he noted, reflects the true language of politics.
