The surprise return of Malawi’s Peter Mutharika, 85, to the presidency has sparked fresh debate here at home over whether ODM leader Raila Odinga should throw his hat in the ring for Kenya’s 2027 presidential elections.
Mutharika, who once lost the seat to Lazarus Chakwera in a repeat vote, reclaimed victory this week after Chakwera conceded defeat. The outgoing Malawian leader phoned his rival to congratulate him—an act that underscored the shifting tides of politics in the region.
Analysts say Chakwera’s downfall was tied to his broken promises, and an economy in distress. His exit has raised eyebrows beyond Malawi’s borders, with many Kenyans drawing parallels to their own political landscape.
By the time his new term ends, Mutharika will be 90. That fact alone has inspired a section of Odinga’s loyalists, who argue that age should not stop the veteran opposition chief from making one last attempt at State House. Odinga will be 82 in 2027.
The comparisons are not lost on observers. Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara, now 83, remains firmly in power, suggesting that age is increasingly becoming less of a consideration in African politics.
Still, Odinga has been cautious—even in his bromance with President William Ruto. On Tuesday, while in Machakos, Odinga warned ODM lawmakers against openly campaigning for President William Ruto, telling them the party has not settled on its 2027 political strategy. “We are ODM. Who told you ODM will not field a presidential candidate?” he challenged MPs.
The remarks, subtle as they were, reignited speculation that Odinga could still be mulling on his sixth stab at the presidency. He has contested the presidency five times: 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022—but never clinched victory, often disputing results declared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
For some Kenyans, Chakwera’s defeat also offers a warning to President Ruto: unfulfilled promises and unpopular policies can turn a sitting head of state into a one-term leader.
Whether Raila Odinga sees Mutharika’s comeback as an invitation to fire his last bullet remains the unanswered question—one that could define the next chapter of Kenya’s political story.
