By The Weekly Vision Team
Sources say Uhuru Kenyatta hasn’t given up on his dream of a Raila Odinga presidency and is said to be pushing for his sixth stab. To show how serious Mr Odinga is, his political activities of late point towards running again in 2027. He has been busy building bridges with former rivals and expanding his political base. However, his latest political moves have raised questions about his relationship with his co-principal in Azimio, Kalonzo Musyoka, who is also being seen as a potential successor in the Azimio coalition
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga are said to be working on a serious political formation to dislodge President William Ruto from office in 2027. According to sources well versed in the new power games, there are indications now that Mr Odinga will most likely run for president again in 2027, a move that will most likely split the Azimio coalition right in the middle.
Keen political followers in Kenya and elsewhere will agree that Mr Odinga’s latest moves across the country are a clear indication that something big is cooking. As this is happening, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has been left between a hard place and a rock. Mr. Kalonzo’s latest sentiments on 2027 have been that if he will not be on the ballot in 2027, then he will quit politics. His allies have been pushing Raila Odinga to come out in the open and endorse their man for the top seat, while a section of Mr Odinga’s inner circle still believes he is the only one who can send President Ruto home in 2027.
Sources say Uhuru Kenyatta hasn’t given up on his dream of a Raila Odinga presidency and is said to be pushing for his sixth stab. To show how serious Mr Odinga is, his political activities of late point towards running again in 2027. He has been busy building bridges with former rivals and expanding his political base. However, his latest political moves have raised questions about his relationship with his co-principal in Azimio, Kalonzo Musyoka, who is also being seen as a potential successor in the Azimio coalition.
Raila Odinga has been on a charm offensive across the country, recruiting members into his ODM party. The recruitment drive began in the four counties of Luo Nyanza and then moved to Kisii, Nyamira, Bungoma, and Busia counties, and now to the Coast region. Analysts say Odinga’s latest move to revamp ODM is a matter that cannot be overlooked as mere political activity. What is not known is whether he has finally decided to run again or if he’s just revamping his ODM party to give it more powers to bargain with other coalition partners in readiness for the 2027 elections.
It has, however, been speculated that Raila Odinga wants ODM to remain vibrant. According to sources close to the ODM secretariat, Mr Odinga’s game plan is that if he doesn’t run in support of Kalonzo, the running mate’s slot must be ODM’s. Another seat that ODM plans to take is the Nairobi gubernatorial and senatorial slots. Sources say Raila plans to let go of the women’s slot currently held by Esther Passaris. According to sources, the women’s representative’s seat shall be left for Uhuru Kenyatta’s party, and the name being flouted is that of Pauline Njoroge of the Jubilee Party.
It is an open secret that Raila Odinga has fallen out with Esther Passaris after she voted for the passage of the controversial Finance Bill. Chances are high that she will most likely jump ship and be Kenya Kwanza’s candidate. Already, Raila Odinga has endorsed Westlands MP for the gubernatorial slot, and there is no way he can give away the senatorial seat currently held by his party’s secretary general, Edwin Sifuna.
To show how the Raila-Uhuru inner circle is secretly working on Raila’s 6th presidential bid, during Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s anniversary and public lecture at Ofafa Memorial Hall in Kisumu, the former first lady Margaret Kenyatta attended the function. Her presence spoke political volumes. It was again the presence of Uhuru Kenyatta’s favourite sister, Christina Pratt, that attracted much attention.
