Azimio leader Raila Odinga has thrown spanner to the works, saying that he’d give presidency a sixth stab in 2027.
The (ODM) Orange Democratic Movement supremo was speaking during a political tour of Mombasa County. In the meeting, the Azimio leader reiterated that there was nothing wrong with him contesting the presidency for the sixth time (5 times in a row – since 2007 – the first time being in 1997 against President Daniel Moi).
In what will surprise many people, the Azimio leader said that he was not planning to surrender any time soon, dismissing those who are wishing that he should ‘go to Bondo’. “I hear people saying that Raila should go to Bondo, Raila is still strong. I am going nowhere.”
“Some are saying that ODM is dying and our enemy is making inroads in our strongholds, but I am telling them ODM is still strong. In fact, beginning this year, we shall embark on a mission to revamp the party from the grassroots level up to the national level,” said Odinga. The sentiments are a strong pointer that the Azimio leader has little, or no plans, to relinquish his stellar political career in Kenya, and Africa.
The politician was speaking in the company of a host of leaders from the Coastal region, led by Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir. In what seemed like a support of the stand taken by the Azimio leader Raila Odinga, Jomvu MP Badi Twalib reiterated their commitment to ODM, saying that they were unbowed and unshaken.
Twalib said that the Azimio leader was still very much strong for 2027 contest – saying that it was too early to write him off.
“Raila is still very strong to vie for the presidency, he is our political Messi and we believe he still can score the winning goal,” said Twalib.
Twalib said that the Mombasa governor’s office is a public office where everyone is free to come, therefore the fact that Nassir was there to welcome president William Ruto does not mean anything.
“Getting development from the national government is our right, it is not a favour that someone is doing to us,” he said.
