By Baraka Karama and Brian Okoth
Orange Democratic Movement Party leader Raila Odinga says he is not ready to talk about whether he will be on the ballot in 2022 presidential race, or not.
Speaking in Kisumu, where he made a tour on Friday, August 14, the former Prime Minister said he and his “brother”, President Uhuru Kenyatta, are currently focused on building a united Kenya, and that politics, for him, takes the backseat for now.
“I have stated time and again that my brother, Uhuru Kenyatta, and I won’t talk about the 2022 general election until we reach that bridge. For now, he and I are focusing on building this nation and fixing where we went wrong. I am committed to addressing the current problems facing us as a nation,” said Odinga after he was asked for a comment on remarks made by Jubilee honcho, David Murathe, who suggested that the ruling Party will support Raila Odinga in 2022 race for State House.
On Monday, August 10, Murathe told The Star that he was sure President Kenyatta will support the ODM leader to succeed him in 2022.
According to Murathe, Odinga “is the only one capable of holding the country together”.
“Among all those seeking the presidency none of them has the experience and statesmanship like Raila does. We will go out of our way to ensure he is elected by a huge majority,” said Murathe.
The Jubilee Vice Chairperson said President Kenyatta will prefer a Raila candidature as a way of settling a historical debt between the Head of State’s father, Jomo Kenyatta, and Raila’s father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
“The Kenyattas owe the Odingas a debt because Raila’s father helped Mzee Kenyatta to ascend to the presidency despite sustained pressure from the colonialists,” said Murathe.
Murathe further stated that he and “other people” would persuade Central Kenya, which previously voted against Raila Odinga in the race for presidency, to cast their ballot in support of the ODM leader in 2022 presidential race.
“Those thinking Central Kenya will not vote for Raila will be shocked,” said Murathe.
Murathe has been on the record — on several occasions — saying that Jubilee won’t support Deputy President William Ruto in the 2022 State House contest because the DP is “power-hungry, and graft-tolerant”.
His remarks came on the back of a previous (now aborted) pact, which suggested that President Kenyatta, upon the completion of his 10-year term, would support the DP’s presidential bid.
