Raila Odinga’s political stars seem to be lining up in his favour after President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ally, who is a top Jubilee Party official, told Kenyans to prepare for the ODM leader’s presidency in 2022.
David Murathe, the Jubilee vice-chairperson, who caused a rift in the ruling party two years ago over his stance on Deputy President William Ruto, says that Mt. Kenya region is ready for a Raila presidency.
Speaking recently on KTN News, Murathe, a former MP, said that Raila is destined to be a transitional president to nurture and usher in a new generation of young leaders in the period between 2022 and 2027.
“We think it is time Kenyans rewarded the long years of the struggle of Raila Odinga. He is like Mandela. It is a long Mandela,” said Murathe.
The politician said that Raila should be a transitional president who will nurture the young generation to take over in 2027.
“I will vote for Raila Odinga as the next President of Kenya unless he decides not to run and backs someone else like Matiang’i (Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi) and Kalonzo (former Vice President and Wiper Democratic Movement leader).
Murathe can be credited for unwittingly creating the fissure in Jubilee that led to the emergence of the Kieleweka and Tanga Tanga sides.
In late 2018, Murathe trashed the political alliance between Mt Kenya bloc and Rift Valley, an alliance that helped Jubilee win the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections.
During the campaigns, there was a tacit assumption that Mt Kenya region would back Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential ambitions upon the retirement of President Kenyatta in 2022.
However, following the heated 2017 elections that saw Raila swear himself in as the People’s President in a mock ceremony, the political landscaped quickly changed.
In a bid to keep the country united, President Kenyatta sought out his political nemesis Raila and the duo struck a truce that led to the handshake and Building Bridges Initiative.
The handshake led to a close working relationship between President Kenyatta and Raila, happenings that ruffled and caused disquiet in DP Ruto’s camp.
In such a backdrop, DP Ruto has found himself increasingly isolated in the running of state affairs over his allies constant politicking ahead of the highly anticipated 2022 General Election.
With the handshake and the blessings of Uhuru’s close allies, Raila seemed destined to achieve his ambition of becoming the president of Kenya should more prominent politicians keep flocking to his camp.
