Perhaps by design or
default, Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga and his Ugandan counterpart
Kiiza Besigye, are currently rallying their supporters in a resistance campaign
against the governments of their respective countries.
Here are the five distinct
similarities between these two campaigns.
1. Odinga's campaign is
coded #Resist while Besigye has themed his #Defiance.The objective, however is
the same, to resist or defy directives from the government and system with an
aim of creating some economic sabotage.
2. Both campaigns have
unveiled dress codes. Nasa's dress code features a white t-shirt and green cap, both emblazoned
with the word #Resist. Besigye, meanwhile, has opted for a red ribbon which is
mostly tied by his supporters on the head. Red clothing, mostly ties, shirts
and caps, are accepted herein as alternatives.
3. The campaigns are led by
persons with similar attributes and history.Both Odinga and Besigye have been detained in the
past by the governments of their respective countries. They both front a
reformist agenda backed by a considerable following from the masses, even if
the following has never translated into enough votes to catapult them to State
House. Both have severally complained of being rigged out in elections.
4. Both are seeking the
presidency.Odinga's campaign is primarily meant to protest what he claims was a
rigged election in August, push for electoral reforms under which fresh elections
should be conducted within 90 days. Besigye meanwhile, maintains defiance is
the best approach to stop planned constitutional amendments that target to
remove among other, age-limits on those wishing to vie for the presidency. He
also argues this will eventual topple the government in Uganda has has opted to
use all the state resources to keep it in power instead of the welfare of the
people.
5. If successful, both
campaigns could have far reaching economical implications.Odinga has already asked his
supporters to boycott specific products and services from companies he claims
have been supportive to the illegal
system. On his part, Besigye is advocating for the same cause albeit on
a general basis."For example if all the farmers in the country defied
taking their harvested food to the markets thus creating food crisis in
Kampala, the whole world shall listen and there shall be attention from all
stakeholders," he says
